- Everton announce 2026 retained list with 12 player departures confirmed.
- Club continues contract extensions talks with veteran midfielder Idrissa Gueye.
- Rising star Roman Dixon’s surprise exit sparks major fan debate.
Following the bombshell news of the Burnley PSR ruling, Everton have quietly dropped their 2026 retained and released list.
Amid the predictable academy clean-out and the emotional farewell to legendary captain Seamus Coleman, one name on the “released” pile has caused an immediate, fierce debate across social media.
While the club confirms they are actively locked in talks to extend 36-year-old Idrissa Gana Gueye’s stay into an eighth season, they have officially bid farewell to 12 players.
Most are standard academy departures, but the inclusion of highly-rated young right-back Roman Dixon has left many asking a very simple question: Are we making a mistake?
The gamble of letting Roman Dixon walk away
Losing an elite academy product always stings, but letting Roman Dixon leave at this moment feels, maybe, a bit short-sighted.
With Seamus Coleman officially hanging up his boots, Everton’s right-back slot is a gaping, unresolved void. Yes, David Moyes is actively chasing high-profile targets like Ben White and Guela Doue, but the club’s financial position (cheers Burnley) remains tight. Dixon represented the ideal, low-cost, high-ceiling modern full-back who could have provided vital squad depth under Moyes next season.
Instead, the 21-year-old is walking out of Finch Farm for nothing. At a time when homegrown talent is worth its weight in gold for PSR balancing, letting a player with Dixon’s raw pace and defensive recovery ability leave without a fight feels like a luxury a transitioning Everton can ill afford. Time will tell.
The complete list of 12 summer departures
The clearing of the decks means a significant shake-up across the entire development squad. The 12 players officially leaving the club upon the expiry of their contracts at the end of June are:
| Player | Position | Age Group |
| Seamus Coleman | Right-Back | First Team (Retired) |
| Tyler Onyango | Central Midfield | Under-21s |
| Roman Dixon | Right-Back | Under-21s |
| Francis Okoronkwo | Centre-Forward | Under-21s |
| Reece Welch | Centre-Back | Under-21s |
| Jacob Beaumont-Clark | Right-Winger | Under-21s |
| Kingsford Boakye | Left-Winger | Under-21s |
| Bradley Moonan | Centre-Back | Under-21s |
| Goodness Gospel-Eze | Goalkeeper | Under-18s |
| Louis Poland | Left-Back | Under-18s |
| Charlie Stewart | Centre-Forward | Under-18s |
| Kean Wren | Left-Winger | Under-18s |
The Gana paradox
The logic becomes even more confusing when you look at who the club is trying to keep. Moyes clearly values experience, hence the ongoing contract negotiations with Gueye.
But as we saw during the campaign, time waits for no man. Gueye’s elite metrics dropped significantly last season, and relying heavily on a player turning 37 in September feels like a short-term plaster for a long-term problem.
If we have the budget to block out millions in wages for Gueye’s twilight years, blocking the pathway of younger talents like Dixon, Okoronkwo, and Welch feels a bit contradictory.
Moyes is building for a bright new future at the Hill Dickinson, but by letting Dixon walk away, he might just have handed a rival club a future Premier League star for absolutely nothing. Again… only time will tell.
