Everton’s transfer business has centred on incoming deals this week. The club’s most significant summer decision may concern a player they have no intention of selling.
Borussia Dortmund and Stuttgart have both added Tim Iroegbunam to their summer shortlists, according to reports via SportsBoom. Everton’s position has been consistent: the 22-year-old is not for sale at any price.
The interest is not new. Everton rejected an approach from Lazio in January, and Hull City and Ipswich were linked with £20m moves in June before that interest cooled.
What has changed is the context. Idrissa Gana Gueye’s contract expired on 30 June, and Iroegbunam is the only player in Everton’s squad who replicates Gueye’s defensive screening role in front of the back four.
Hayden Hackney’s arrival from Middlesbrough addresses a different need — a progressive, deep-lying passer rather than a like-for-like replacement for Gueye. That makes Iroegbunam’s role more important following the Hackney signing, not less.
Impressive numbers for Tim…
His numbers explain the interest from Germany. Minutes under David Moyes rose from 564 in his first season to 1,486 last term, reflecting a move from squad depth to first-team fixture. He made 31 appearances across all competitions, started 18 Premier League matches, and arrived from Aston Villa in 2024 for a fee that looked light given his limited senior appearances at the time — a valuation since justified.
Both Dortmund and Stuttgart have reputations for developing young English talent, and Iroegbunam’s physical profile and ball-carrying ability suit Bundesliga football. His contract runs until 2027, giving Everton control over the situation. The same length means a fresh approach could resurface at any point before it enters its final year.
For now, player and club are aligned. Iroegbunam is reported to be settled at Everton and focused on the first-team football Moyes has provided, rather than pushing for a move on reputation alone. That alignment is why this remains a watching brief rather than an active saga — but with two Bundesliga clubs already showing genuine interest, it’s a situation Everton will need to manage rather than assume will resolve itself.
