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Everton consider move for free agent World Cup centre-back

Everton consider move for free agent World Cup centre-back

Everton have registered interest in free agent defender Axel Tuanzebe, according to Ben Jacobs, with Brentford and clubs in Saudi Arabia also credited with interest in the 28-year-old.

Tuanzebe became a free agent when his one-year contract at Burnley expired at the end of June, though the club have since said they remain open to bringing him back, with new head coach Nicky Hayen naming him among a list of defensive targets.

The centre-back is understood to remain free to join any club, however, having impressed for DR Congo at this summer’s World Cup after switching international allegiance from England.

A boyhood product of Manchester United’s academy, Tuanzebe made just 16 appearances for Burnley last season due to injury, but his tournament form appears to have revived interest from elsewhere.

He has also previously spent time on loan at Aston Villa, Stoke City and Napoli, and had a spell at Ipswich Town before joining Burnley on a free transfer in 2025.

Any move for Everton would add experienced squad depth at centre-back on minimal financial risk, given his free agent status, though nothing has been confirmed by the club and competition for his signature looks to be growing.

Everton’s live transfer tracker has the latest on all deals in and around the Hill Dickinson this summer.

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Gary is an experienced football journalist who has written for, among many others, BBC Sport and The Metro, and is now the editor of ReadEverton.com. He leads daily coverage of Everton news, transfers and analysis as part of the dave.sport network. He also writes for ReadManCity.com, ReadMotorsport and ReadNorwich within the same network. When not writing, he enjoys a nice cold pint of Guinness and trips to the cinema ... not always at the same time.

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