Everton have seen a fair few stars, flops and cult heroes grace Goodison Park over the years. Some names in particular may surprise you.
From World Cup Champions to fading legends, these seven players once wore the Everton shirt. Some made an impact, but others saw their career fall rapidly. Here’s a look at seven players you likely forgot ever played for the Toffees.
Embed from Getty Images#1 – Josh King (February 2021-June 2021)
After a successful six-year stint at Bournemouth, Josh King joined Everton in the 2021 winter transfer window. During his time at the Toffees, King made just 11 appearances and failed to score a single goal which was very surprising given his Premier League experience.
His time at Everton ended that summer and he joined Watford on a free transfer. King later admitted he felt “misled” about game time during his time at the club. Nowadays, he’s playing in Ligue 1 for Toulouse.
Embed from Getty Images#2 – Paul Gascoigne (July 2000-March 2002)
Paul Gascoigne’s time at Everton was brief, he made just 38 appearances and scored one goal during his two seasons at Merseyside.
Gazza signed on a free deal in July 2000, reuniting with former Rangers manager Walter Smith. His first season started well despite a lack of fitness but his ongoing depression meant he was out of the first team by Christmas.
In the following season, Gascoigne scored his first goal for the club and what turned out to be his last in English football. It was away against Bolton Wanderers in November 2001. In March 2002, Gazza left Everton. This came just a week after manager Smith was replaced by David Moyes.
Embed from Getty Images#3 – Shkodran Mustafi (May 2009-January 2012)
Back in the 2009/10 season, Shkodran Mustafi joined Everton, turning down offers from Manchester City and Newcastle. He made just one appearance for Everton as a 75th minute substitute in the Europa League.
Mustafi only appeared on the bench nine times in the following two seasons, but never played again. Therefore, in January 2012, the German defender asked manager David Moyes to allow him to move on for more minutes.
He joined Serie B side Sampdoria before going on to win the World Cup with Germany in 2014 and two FA Cup trophies with Arsenal between 2016 and 2020.
Embed from Getty Images#4 – Samuel Eto’o (August 2014-January 2015)
Samuel Eto’o joined Everton as a free agent after his contract expired at Chelsea in the summer of 2014. He signed a two-year deal with the Toffees and said he wanted to win the Europa League with them.
He made his debut against his former club Chelsea and scored a header in a 6-3 defeat. His Everton career was short lived though, as after 20 matches and four goals he left to join Sampdoria.
Embed from Getty Images#5 – James Rodriguez (September 2020-September 2021)
James Rodriguez arrived at Everton as a marquee signing under Carlo Ancelotti on a two-year deal. He did well for the Toffees, scoring five goals and providing eight assists in 26 games.
His best match came in October 2020 against Brighton where he scored two goals and provided an assist in a 4-2 victory at Goodison Park.
However, injuries and Ancelotti’s departure saw James’ form decline and in 2021 he left for Qatar. Now he plays for Mexican side Leon, where he has made 17 appearances since his arrival in January 2025.
Embed from Getty Images#6 – Amadou Onana (August 2022-July 2024)
Amadou Onana is the most recent player on this list to have worn the Everton shirt but his time at the club may have slipped your mind thanks to his incredible debut season at Aston Villa.
The Belgian midfielder joined the Toffees in 2022 from Lille in a deal worth around £33 million. He became a vital cog in Everton’s midfield, making 72 appearances for the club.
Last summer, he was one of the most sought after midfielders in Europe. Villa secured his signature for £50 million and Onana has since gone on to light up the Champions League stage.
Embed from Getty Images#7 – Allan (September 2020-September 2022)
Another big signing made upon Ancelotti’s arrival as manager was Allan from Napoli. The Brazilian made over 200 appearances for the Serie A side before joining Everton for £21.7 million.
He made his debut in a 1-0 win over Tottenham but his season was brought to a halt when he suffered a hamstring injury in December 2020. He returned three months later, playing a full 90 against Southampton.
Allan signed a two-year deal with Emirati club Al Wahda in September 2022 after making 57 appearances for Everton across two seasons. Now, he’s back in Brazil playing for Botafogo who are currently participating in the Club World Cup.
Embed from Getty ImagesWritten by Isabelle Newnham
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