Everton close in on exciting double deal | OneFootball

Everton are closing in on the double signing of Bayern Munich left-back Adam Aznou and Lyon winger Malick Fofana.

The Blues have reached an agreement with Bayern over a deal to sign Aznou, for an initial fee of €9m (£7.8m). The deal for the 19-year-old could rise by a further €3m (£2.6m) with add-ons.

Aznou is set to undergo a medical with Everton within the next 48 hours and has given his approval to a move to Merseyside, as reported by The Athletic’s Paddy Boyland. The defender, who has won three senior caps for Morocco, spent the second half of last season on loan at Real Valladolid in La Liga.

Everton are also in talks with Lyon over the transfer of Malick Fofana. Fabrizio Romano is reporting that the Blues are working on a deal that would represent a significant coup.

Chelsea, Liverpool and Nottingham Forest have all been linked with Fofana this summer, who scored 11 times and provided five assists for Lyon last season. He averaged a goal or assist every 140 minutes across Ligue 1 and the Europa League in 2024/25. An official bid has been submitted for the winger, while discussions over personal terms are underway.

Fofana enjoyed a breakout season at Lyon last season and ranked in the top 10% of wingers in Ligue 1 for progressive carries and carries into the final third per 90.

Reader Comments (52)

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Sam Hoare 2 Posted 26/07/2025 at 17:06:12

Fofana will be harder to land as apparently he wants CL football. Really good player though so fingers crossed.

Aznou sounds like it’s almost done and could be a massive bargain at £8m. Excellent prospect who is a brilliant dribbler but also decent defensively. Unlikely to push Mykolenko for his position straight away but could develop into a really top class LB in a few years. More like this please!

Christy Ring 3 Posted 26/07/2025 at 17:07:49

Agree with Paul, I’ll wait for the medical especially for Fofana, but encouraged to be linked with younger stars.

Jamie Clancy 4 Posted 26/07/2025 at 17:09:05

OMG if we get these two this will be a HUGE statement of intent. Both have very high ceilings. This is the kind of recruitment I was hoping to see - buying wonderkids but ready to make an impact and could go on to become world beaters. More like this Everton!

Liam Mogan 5 Posted 26/07/2025 at 17:09:23

Aznou plays for Morocco so probably another one we'd lose to the African Nations in January for a month or so.

Paul Tran 6 Posted 26/07/2025 at 17:13:47

Better to wait till the signing email from the club hits your inbox. Can't be good for your health, getting wound up because some random guesswork Internet site is 'linking' us with players.

Mike Gaynes 7 Posted 26/07/2025 at 17:17:14

Agreed, this is exciting stuff.

PT, I understand your hesitancy, but the New York Times isn't exactly a random clickbait site. It's okay to smile just a bit, my friend!

Liam #5, Aznou hasn't really broken through into Morocco's side yet -- only started two games, both against minnows Lesotho -- and there isn't another AFCON until 2027, so let's not worry about that just yet.

Rob Halligan 8 Posted 26/07/2025 at 17:22:49

Mike, I think the next AFCON is 21st December this year until 18th January next year. However, the AFCON in 2027 is to be held during June and July, so no club should be affected by that.

Danny O'Neill 9 Posted 26/07/2025 at 17:24:33

Yes Liam,

Born in Barcelona to Moroccan parents. He did represent Spain at youth level, but switched to Morocco and has now represented the senior team, but not very often.

I think Sunderland have signed 5 African players this season!!

Paul Tran 10 Posted 26/07/2025 at 17:26:03

Mike, I regard Paddy Boyland as a reliable source. It's all the other nonsense, and the toy-throwing that follows it on here, that bemuses me.

There's plenty of smiling in this house!

Ben King 11 Posted 26/07/2025 at 17:30:53

It’s not done until it’s done

Fofana looks exciting but a) slightly raw and b) seems to do his best work from the left

Would LOVE him and Kubo (which is very unlikely I know)

Mike Gaynes 12 Posted 26/07/2025 at 17:43:07

Me too, PT. Big grin. Even Boyland has been occasionally sneered at here, but to the best of my recollection he hasn't been wrong yet.

Rob #8, thanks for the correction. As always!

Lee Courtliff 13 Posted 26/07/2025 at 17:53:40

Sometimes even seeing them on the pitch at Goodison with the manager and chairman isn't even a guarantee that the transfer has gone through...remember Kanchelskis back in '95?

Although that transfer did eventually go through, it was a nervy couple of weeks for my then 14 yr old self! A truly great player, and the last time we signed a top class player in the Peak of his career.

Back on topic, these lads are exactly what we need to be signing, for the reasons others have already mentioned.

I was starting to worry but now I'm excited again, if we get these two done by early next week that means we've brought in 5 players this window with still a month of the transfer window remaining.

Funny how you can get excited over transfers that haven't even happened yet, especially when it involves two players you've never even seen play!

Danny O'Neill 15 Posted 26/07/2025 at 18:33:08

It depends if the player sees himself like that John @14, or he's played there.

It's the inverted winger thing that modern coaches like to use and another term I have to learn, although this one is a bit easier to understand. A wide attacking midfielder who cuts in to create chances or take a shot.

We done it last season with Ndiaye and latterly, when fit, McNeil. Ndiaye's preferred foot is his right, but he's a bit more two footed.

Mihir Ambardekar 16 Posted 26/07/2025 at 18:44:04

Exciting player. But does he play on the right? We need someone who is an out and out right winger. If we get Fofana and Kubo we will be an exciting team to watch. I wonder where will ndiaye play?

Sam Hoare 18 Posted 26/07/2025 at 19:07:34

Fofana hasn’t usually played on the right. Though I reckon he could. Really talented player who will probably end up at a CL club but let’s see. Paul Joyce said we’re after more than one winger.

Perhaps the 9 players are:

AznouFofanaKuboMcateeDouglas LuizGuela Doue

And then 3 on loan to fill in gaps. Imagine!

Jay Harris 19 Posted 26/07/2025 at 19:32:40

Joykiller Alan Myers says Fofana is only at the enquiry stage.

Sam, how I wish someone could make that list happen.

John Pickles 20 Posted 26/07/2025 at 19:36:46

Danny #15

Fofana in the Echo:

"I prefer to play on the left," he said. "I started on that side, even though at Gent I played more on the right.

His YouTube 'wonder' clip has most of his success on the left.

Robert Tressell 21 Posted 26/07/2025 at 19:38:16

This is why I am not getting too worried about our summer window. The profile of the players we are very credibly linked with is good. Like Barry and Alcaraz before them, the links are generally to players with decent experience of a top 5 European League - who could each form part of our First XI for 5 to 10 years. That is proper long term thinking of the kind that Moyes and Martinez used in building up different high quality (albeit small) squads. We haven't really seen that kind of thinking since, although Thelwell operated along those lines albeit under extreme financial constraints. Which is why we haven't finished higher than 8th since they both left.

Ian Bennett 22 Posted 26/07/2025 at 19:58:26

16 goal involvements last season, and he's not Gareth bale or Andrei kanchelskis 😉.

Andy Crooks 23 Posted 26/07/2025 at 20:48:47

I would us to sign one, just one, player who is not one for the future. Not someone with a resale value; just a slightly better than average player who can start in the opening game of the season and make us a tiny bit better.

Robert Tressell 24 Posted 26/07/2025 at 20:55:54

You don't think young players like Alcaraz and Barry make us better, Andy?

Kieran Kinsella 25 Posted 26/07/2025 at 20:57:07

I’ll wait until I can put my fingers through his crucified hands to believe it

Mark Murphy 26 Posted 26/07/2025 at 20:59:40

Someone’s been browsing the Peoples Forum…

Gavin Johnson 27 Posted 26/07/2025 at 21:17:54

Looks like Moyes wants to move Ndiaye centrally if we're trying hard to sign Fofana.

Billy Shears 28 Posted 26/07/2025 at 21:29:55

Please God...make this double happen for us Blues! 🙏

Robert Tressell 29 Posted 26/07/2025 at 21:30:55

It looks that way, Gavin, although I wonder whether the club is just looking to sign more quality / variety in the final third. If we do get Fofana, then I think we'll also get someone (probably left footed) for the right wing. Hopefully not Harrison!

Andrew Ellams 30 Posted 26/07/2025 at 21:39:02

The Twitter rumours for Fofana seem to be a bit more negative than they were a few hours ago

Ryan Holroyd 31 Posted 26/07/2025 at 22:05:06

Imagine if we sign Fofana and McAtee!!

Wow

Gibbs-White is staying at Forest so that could boost us as both have been linked to Forest

Andrew Ellams 32 Posted 26/07/2025 at 22:15:45

Do we need both Ryan if signing Fofana would push N'Dyiae central and Alcaraz and McNeil to the bench.

Eric Myles 33 Posted 27/07/2025 at 06:12:52

Ryan, but now the Gibbs-White suitors may add more competition to the Fofana and McAtee signings.

Bobby Mallon 34 Posted 27/07/2025 at 06:35:55

Oh, and Moyes needs to change his style of play also.

Steve Brown 35 Posted 27/07/2025 at 06:40:59

Agree Ryan, signing Fofana would be exciting.

I understand about tougher negotiations, but we have known the required signing for months. Good on David Moyes for sending repeated messages to TFG over the last few days.

If there is a £4M gap for Fofana, pay it and move on. I would also like to see Kubo brought in on the right.

Danny O'Neill 36 Posted 27/07/2025 at 07:13:35

Not sure about that Andrew @32.

All opinions, but there is no reason Ndiaye, Fofana (if signed) and Alcaraz in the same team. I think it's McNeil who makes way.

The other factor is that, regardless of everyone's preferred or predicted first 11, the chances of that being available every week and every match throughout the season are very slim.

Geoff Lambert 39 Posted 27/07/2025 at 11:24:20

Andrew #32,

Isn't that exactly what we need? If good players are moving to the bench, it means we are bringing in better players and improving our overall squad strength.

Paul Kossoff 40 Posted 27/07/2025 at 16:04:51

Does D M know how lhis left from his right? Someone please tell our learned manager that we need a RIGHT winger and RIGHT full back!!!! These two are left footed, not right footed! Is it me, being stupid, or am I right?Sounds like Moyes doesn't know his arse from his elbow. Where is Aznou going to play? West Brom, maybe Birmingham? Because he won't replace Mykolenko. We need ready to go squad members, not 19 yr olds that haven't played five games and have been sent out on loan. According to Sky sports, Lyon winger Malick Fofana “has other plans” that may mean Everton miss out on his signature. Switzerland reporter Sacha Tavolieri. So he ain't coming, which is good, because we need a RIGHT winger! Which is where I came in.

Andy Crooks 41 Posted 27/07/2025 at 16:13:57

Robert@ 24, I absolutely agree. However, do you think Barry will start in our opening game? I have an uneaten hat and if Barry starts before a fit Beto I will eat it. Not sure about Alcaraz. If he starts I will eat the feather on it.

Paul Kossoff 42 Posted 27/07/2025 at 16:37:56

Kieran. "I’ll wait until I can put my fingers thriugh his crucified hands"? I don't get that. I guess your referring to Jesus? I can only say weird as fk to your post. Care to explain, or did you use your book of offensive comments to come up with that one?

Dave Abrahams 43 Posted 27/07/2025 at 16:55:10

Paul (42), I think Kieran is referring to Doubting Thomas who was a disciple of Jesus.

Paul Kossoff 44 Posted 27/07/2025 at 17:03:56

Dave, dosn't matter, I as others find it offensive and not needed. And Thomas put his hand in the wound in the side of Jesus, not his hands.

Surely a more appropriate reason for not believing something, could be used. When pigs fly, pink elephants, newspaper taxies. Anyway, we don't need a left fullback, and we don't need a left winger, RIGHT???😁

Andrew Ellams 45 Posted 27/07/2025 at 17:06:36

Geoff @ 39, absolutely

Andrew Ellams 46 Posted 27/07/2025 at 17:08:09

Danny @ 36, my comment depends on another new recruit to play on the right

Danny O'Neill 47 Posted 27/07/2025 at 17:20:04

Either Ndiaye or Fofana can do both side Andrew.

I know he's quoted his preference is left, but both he and Ndiaye can play both sides.

Paul K, I would imagine Aznou will play for Everton. He will be back up to Mykolenko and get his chances. He's had very few at Bayern.

Grant Rorrison 48 Posted 27/07/2025 at 17:25:16

We're not signing Fofana so what does it matter where he can or does play?

Mihir Ambardekar 49 Posted 27/07/2025 at 17:27:02

New LB will provide good competition to Myko. Barry leading the line and Ndiaye behind him along with Malick Fofana and Kubo or Mcatee on Right wing, sign a decent right back e.g Zeki Celik from Roma and Douglas Luiz as a center mid, We will have a squad capable of achieving at least Europa League spot. Dreaming the same, hope we achieve something substantial.

50 Posted 27/07/2025 at 17:35:58

Andy # 41, no I don't think Barry will start ahead of Beto initially. The latter knows the league, knows the squad and is a goal threat (albeit with plenty of flaws).

But he remains a player for the here and now, as too Alcaraz. It just so happens both have plenty of room for improvement and can occupy their positions in our side for 5 to 10 years.

I guess you're saying (I think) that you'd like a player like Gibbs-White, Eze, Wissa or Bowen. Don't get me wrong, I would too. But we can't afford any of those players and, in any case, Wissa could well be a flash in the pan.

Unfortunately, the more established players we can afford tend to have something wrong with them or just aren't that good. The exceptions tend to be the really cheap or free ones like Townsend, Barry, Tarkowski and Gueye.

So, personally, I'd rather build the squad up with older, lower cost steady eddies - and really high potential younger players.

Derek Knox 52 Posted 27/07/2025 at 17:58:05

Andy @ 41, If it's a Pork Pie Hat you should be okay ! :-)

Jay Harris 53 Posted 27/07/2025 at 18:15:32

Just watch the other shower sell Diaz and get Fofana.

Unless someone does an outstanding job of selling Everton to Fofana he isn't coming to Everton.

Why don't we get these player's agents on board before making fanciful enquiries.

I remain cynical and thoroughly depressed.