Everton's deadline day ended in disarray after a £40m move for United States international Folarin Balogun fell apart in dramatic fashion, leaving manager David Moyes with just one senior striker heading into the season.
The Toffees had struck an agreement with Monaco to sign the 25-year-old forward, but complications arose during his medical examination, casting doubt over the transfer. Club officials scrambled to salvage the deal, restructuring the financial terms so that Monaco would receive a smaller upfront fee in exchange for additional performance-related add-ons. A deal sheet was even lodged to buy extra time to finalize the paperwork.
Despite those efforts, Balogun ultimately got cold feet and pulled out of the move entirely in the final moments before the window closed. His decision compounded an already difficult day for Everton's recruitment team, who had earlier sold both Beto to Fiorentina and Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City, stripping the squad of attacking options.
With the Balogun deal in tatters, Everton turned to alternative targets, making late enquiries about Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee and Aston Villa's Tammy Abraham. Both clubs rejected proposals for season-long loans, leaving Thierno Barry as the sole recognized striker at Moyes' disposal for the opening months of the campaign.
The chaotic finish to the window added further pressure on Everton's hierarchy, who had also attempted to move Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest earlier in the process. A separate defensive deal also proved troublesome, as Everton's agreed £9m signing of right-back Kenny Tete from Fulham stalled when the London club failed to secure Rayo Vallecano's Andrei Ratiu as his replacement.
Everton did eventually resolve their right-back situation, bringing in former Arsenal defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles from Lyon for approximately £4.2m. The 29-year-old has put pen to paper on a three-year deal at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The outgoing sales that funded Everton's summer activity included Ndiaye's £60m move to City, which could rise to £65m with add-ons, alongside Beto's £15.5m transfer to Fiorentina, Tim Iroegbunam's £15m switch to Hull, and Nathan Patterson's undisclosed departure to Torino.
Amid the turmoil, there was a bright spot for Everton supporters as Jack Grealish rejoined the club on a season-long loan from Manchester City. The 30-year-old winger impressed during a productive spell at Everton last season before a fractured foot cut his campaign short in February.
Grealish, whose City contract expires when this new loan concludes next summer, could feature against Manchester United this Sunday. Speaking about his return, Grealish said: "I'm so happy. I think I'm at my best at everything in life, not just football, when I feel loved. That's what the manager has given me, what my teammates have given me and especially what the fans have given me. Every time I see an Everton fan, it's just pure love. It means a lot to me and hopefully I've made a few Everton fans happy. I had a perfect time here for the first six months, then I stayed around after I got injured. I've been watching all the Everton games in pre-season and since the season started. Now I feel ready to go."
Meanwhile, the collapsed Balogun deal had ripple effects beyond Everton, with Monaco's need to sell on deadline day failing to reopen the door for Chelsea's pursuit of midfielder Lamine Camara, a separate £47m deal that also fell through after the Blues had already sold Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City for £125m.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football and Independent Football.