Everton’s summer transfer business under David Moyes highlighted a clear shift in strategy.
The club, once notorious for muddled recruitment, has embraced a more balanced approach.
They have successfully combined headline signings like Jack Grealish from Manchester City and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea with some of the brightest young prospects in Europe.
Yet as Everton now put increased emphasis on developing youth talent, it also brings into focus the players they may have let go too soon.
History shows that some departures from Goodison Park have gone on to flourish elsewhere, leaving fans wondering what might have been.
Moise Kean is one of the most prominent examples but he’s not the only one finding form on the continent
Former Everton stars finding form in Italy
When Everton signed Moise Kean from Juventus in 2019, he was hailed as one of the most exciting teenage strikers in Europe.
A product of Italy’s most successful club, Kean arrived at Goodison Park with expectations that he could spearhead the Toffees’ attack for years to come.
But his time on Merseyside never quite clicked.
Across 39 appearances, the Italian managed just four goals and two assists, struggling to adapt to the physicality and pace of the Premier League.
After a series of loan moves – including stints at PSG and back at Juventus – Everton eventually cut their losses, sanctioning a permanent return to Turin in 2023.
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Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.
A year later, Kean moved on again, this time joining Fiorentina.
It proved the making of him. During the 2024/25 Serie A season, he scored 19 goals and registered three assists in 32 appearances, finishing as the league’s second-highest scorer behind Mateo Retegui.
The numbers underline just how much Kean has developed since leaving England.
According to FBref, he ranks in the 86th percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.58), the 87th percentile for total shots per 90 (3.39), and the 92nd percentile for successful take-ons per 90 (1.47).
Once criticised for inconsistency, Kean has matured into a forward capable of deciding matches, combining sharp finishing with the ability to carry the ball past defenders.
While Kean may not have thrived at Goodison, his resurgence elsewhere in Italy suggests the raw ability was always there.
Not just Kean: Ex-Toffee is now emulating Europe's elite
Signed from Charlton in 2017, Ademola Lookman made 48 appearances for Everton, contributing two goals and one assist.
Despite flashes of promise, he was often used sparingly, and in 2019, he left permanently for RB Leipzig.
Since then, Lookman has become one of the most exciting forwards in European football.
Now starring at Atalanta, the Nigerian has earned widespread acclaim, even being nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
His crowning moment came when he scored a stunning hat-trick in the 2024 Europa League final, dismantling Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen to secure the trophy for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side.
Journalist Oma Akatugba has gone so far as to describe him as “one of the best forwards in Europe.”
The statistics back up the claim and even place him stylistically alongside elite attackers like Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak, according to data-led website, FBRef.
In terms of output, Lookman registered 20 goal involvements last season, compared with Salah’s 47 and Isak’s 29.
Matches Played
34
38
31
Goals
23
29
15
Assists
6
18
5
While he lags behind in sheer numbers, his playing profile shares striking similarities.
He averaged 3.24 shots per 90 (almost identical to Salah at 3.23 and Isak at 3.10) and produced 1.28 shots on target per 90, just shy of Salah’s 1.33 and Isak’s 1.34.
His efficiency in front of goal is also comparable, with a 39.5% shot accuracy rate, while Salah managed 41.3% and Isak 43.2%.
Where Lookman truly stands out is in ball progression.
He recorded 5.68 progressive carries per 90, significantly higher than Salah (4.13) and Isak (2.71), underlining his ability to drive forward with the ball.
His passing numbers are similarly impressive: 27.4 completed passes per 90 with a 72.5% success rate, both superior to Salah’s 23.8 at 70.6%.
He also excels creatively, ranking above both with 5.41 shot-creating actions per 90, compared to Salah’s 4.51 and Isak’s 3.01.
Defensively, Lookman contributes too. He ranked higher than both Isak and Salah for tackles in the attacking third (0.32 per 90), reflecting his pressing intensity and commitment off the ball.
The comparisons do not suggest that Lookman is at the same world-class level as Salah or that he matches Isak’s physical presence, but they do show how his game has evolved elsewhere into a blend of goals, creativity, and defensive work – the very traits Everton fans craved during his time at Goodison.
