David Moyes, manager of Everton, during the Spurs vs Everton final match of the 2025/26 Premier League season London Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

David Moyes remains without a trustworthy right-back at Everton.Imago

Everton's right-back search takes new twist after source's reveal

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior football journalist specialising in refereeing and officiating; former contributor to The Football League Paper, Late Tackle, and the Premier League; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Refereeing controversies, football finance and governance, PGMOL decisions, and officiating analysis across the Premier League, EFL, and SPFL. THE INSIGHT Harri utilises a network of officiating and industry contacts to deliver verified, expert analysis of refereeing decisions and PGMOL policy. He provides the regulatory clarity behind the controversy to ensure fans get the full picture.

Published on:

23 Jul 2026, 9:36 am

David Moyes remains without a reliable right-back as Everton prepare for the 2026-27 campaign at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The Toffees' current options are the injury-prone Nathan Patterson, who is also expected to leave, and an out-of-position Jake O'Brien.

Moyes no longer has Seamus Coleman to fall back on as a Plan C, with the manager even testing right-winger Merlin Rohl against Dundee on Saturday, 18 July.

This situation is simply not sustainable, and one that has continued to plague the Merseyside outfit over the last few seasons.

Supporters have been expecting a transfer in that area to be a priority this summer, but Hayden Hackney has been the only new addition so far.

If fans thought that Dundee friendly would have opened the owners' eyes, they may have another thing coming ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

Everton right-back situation takes another frustrating twist

Tottenham Hotspur's Djed Spence and Brooke Norton-Cuffy of Genoa have both appeared on the Toffees' radar, but no move has yet been made.

In fact, sources have told iNews (23 July) that Moyes' team are ready to "play the waiting game" in search of the right fit at full-back this summer.

Given the rising interest in both of their targets, this seems like a very foolish game to play at Finch Farm, one that is bound to backfire.

Everton have several friendly fixtures left to experiment, but the desired outcome would be for a new right-back to be bedded in properly before the new season kicks off.

It is hardly a huge expectation. Fans have been desperate for a signing in that area for multiple transfer windows. Alas, the Toffees remain without.

Djed Spence to Everton: Source reveals Tottenham stance on deal in new update

Nathan Patterson moves closer to Everton exit as transfer approach made

What's the latest on Nathan Patterson's future?

Moyes and his staff would certainly be pressured into moving were Patterson to find a new club in the coming weeks, and that is definitely a possibility.

Football Insider understands that those at Ibrox have accepted that a return to Rangers would be difficult for the 24-year-old, however.

Sheffield United have been linked with a move, as well as Eintracht Frankfurt, Sevilla, and multiple clubs across Spain and Italy.

Everton simply cannot depend on the Scotland international, but deals for Spence and Norton-Cuffy are nowhere near being completed.

David Moyes