- Everton face competition from Man Utd, but at £20m, he may opt for Merseyside.
- Charles scored winner for Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-final against Arsenal.
Everton are scouring the market for midfield reinforcements. With Idrissa Gana Gueye now 35 and in the last part of his contract, David Moyes is preparing for a summer of change in the engine room. One name that has emerged is Southampton’s FA Cup hero, Shea Charles.
The 22‑year‑old came off the bench to score Southampton’s FA Cup quarter‑final winner over Arsenal at the weekend. The Northern Ireland international has made 34 appearances this season, scoring four goals, and is now attracting serious Premier League interest. Southampton value Charles at around £20m.
Guardiola: ‘He’s so good, so composed’
Before his move to Southampton, Charles came through the ranks at Manchester City, where he was incredibly highly rated. Pep Guardiola handed the midfielder his City debut in May 2023 and was full of praise afterwards.
Speaking after that game, Guardiola said: “For these guys the best way to give them the opportunity to play is to surround them with the normal team and protection but it’s not easy.
“Shea Charles against this team with top, top strikers, fast and strong, it’s not the easiest debut. At the same time we don’t play for points.
“Kyle helped him and Aymer and the other ones. He played really good and it’s fantastic for the academy.
“The academy in the last three years, the U18s, the U23s and the first team, three years in a row all three teams won all their leagues. That means the club is working amazingly.
“We know him, he trains quite regularly with us, he’s so good, so composed.”
That endorsement from one of the game’s greatest managers underlines the quality Charles possesses. He was captain of Manchester City’s U21s before joining Southampton for an initial £11m in 2023. He is under contract until June 2027, with an option to extend by a further year.
Why Charles fits Everton’s midfield rebuild
Charles predominantly operates as a defensive midfielder and is much more of a deep‑lying playmaker rather than a destroyer, a different profile to Gueye. That different style could indicate that Moyes wants to move towards a more possession‑based outfit next term, as his Everton side continues to evolve.
The Northern Irishman has already shown he can perform under pressure. He scored against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup earlier this season and was recently scouted by several clubs while representing his country in their World Cup play‑off defeat to Italy.
With Gueye likely to depart and James Garner, Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall and Merlin Rohl forming the core of Everton’s midfield, adding a young, hungry player like Charles would provide depth and long‑term value.
Competition is rife, with Manchester United also reportedly showing an interest, but Everton’s need for midfield reinforcement and the clear pathway to regular minutes could give them an edge.
If the Toffees secure European football, a move for Shea Charles becomes even more attractive. Guardiola’s verdict suggests he has the composure to thrive at the highest level. This is exactly what David Moyes will be looking for.
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