Report: David Moyes green lights Everton move for World Cup defender | OneFootball

Everton Close In on Alistair Johnston as David Moyes Targets Key Right-Back Upgrade

Everton look to be moving with purpose in the transfer market, and this one makes a fair bit of sense. According to TeamTalk, the Toffees are increasingly confident of landing Celtic right-back Alistair Johnston, with the player ready to take the step up and David Moyes firmly on board.

The broad outline is straightforward. Everton believe a deal can be done for around £12million, with add-ons potentially taking it to £15million. In a market full of inflated fees and bad judgement, that sort of structure is sensible. It gives Celtic a respectable return and allows Everton to avoid paying top-end money upfront for a position that badly needs attention.

Alistair Johnston Deal Fits Everton Need

A new right-back has been a priority for Everton all summer, and there is no mystery as to why. Jake O’Brien has filled in there, but he is clearly better suited to the middle. Bringing in Johnston would let Moyes restore a more natural balance to the back line, and that matters over a full Premier League season.

TEAMtalk reports that Everton are in “pole position to sign Celtic star” and that the player has already “given positive signals” about the move. More importantly, he is “prepared to push for the move should terms be finalised”. That is usually the point where a transfer starts to feel real rather than speculative.

Photo: IMAGO

Moyes is said to be “very keen” on Johnston and values his “energy, aggression and intensity”. That tracks. Those are exactly the traits Moyes tends to trust, especially in defenders. Johnston may not be a glamour signing, but not every good signing needs to be dressed up as a statement.

David Moyes Wants Reliability Over Hype

Johnston has been described as “a reliable presence in Celtic’s back line”, and reliability is often underrated until you do not have it. He offers solid defending, competitive edge and enough attacking support from deep areas without drifting into self-indulgence. Everton need function here, not theatre.

There is, however, one point worth noting. He “did miss a big chunk of the 2025/26 campaign due to a hamstring injury”. That cannot be ignored. Soft tissue issues for full-backs matter because the role is built on repeat sprinting and recovery runs. The good news for Everton is that he returned in time for the World Cup and “impressed in his five appearances for Canada”. So there is recent evidence that the level and fitness are there.

Celtic are under no pressure to sell. Johnston is tied down until 2029, and that means Everton will not be getting any favours. TEAMtalk says Celtic are “expected to drive a hard bargain”, which is perfectly logical. If you have a proven international under a long contract, you use that leverage.

Everton Transfer Strategy Shows Common Sense

From Everton’s side, this looks like a measured move rather than a desperate one. The report says the club view Johnston as someone who can provide “immediate competition and depth”, while also coming at a manageable cost. Again, sensible. Everton are not in a position to waste money, and this sort of deal feels more rational than chasing a fashionable name at double the price.

There may also be consequences elsewhere in the squad. Nathan Patterson “could also leave Everton should Johnston be brought in”, which would not be a surprise. If Moyes wants certainty at right-back, he will reshape accordingly.

For now, talks are said to remain “in a positive position”, with Everton hopeful of pushing things along quickly. If they get this done, it will not dominate headlines across the league, but it could solve a genuine problem. And for Everton, that is the point.

Our View

As an Everton fan, this feels like the sort of transfer we should be making more often. No nonsense, no vanity, no paying over the odds because somebody had one flashy month on social media. If Moyes wants a right-back with “energy, aggression and intensity”, then fair enough. That sounds like a player built for the Premier League and built for us.

The biggest positive for me is what this means for the rest of the defence. If Johnston comes in and Jake O’Brien goes back into the middle, the whole back line instantly looks more natural. That alone could be worth the fee. We have seen too many seasons where Everton have patched holes rather than properly fixing them.

I do have one concern, and it is the hamstring issue. Full-backs need to be durable, and we cannot afford to bring in another player who spends too much time unavailable. But the fact he got back, played at the World Cup and reportedly impressed for Canada helps settle that worry a bit.

The £12million to £15million range also feels acceptable in the current market. If that gets you a first-team option with international experience and room to improve, then it is decent business. Supporters do not need every signing to be exciting, they need them to be right. This one looks right, assuming Everton get it over the line.