Everton complete transfer of Allan from Napoli for 20m

June 06, 2024

Everton have signed Napoli midfielder Allan for an initial fee of £20 million on an three-year deal, reports Patrick Boyland.

Allan will be reunited with manager Carlo Ancelotti, having worked with the Italian during his time in charge of Napoli from May 2018 to December 2019.

Napoli signed Allan from Udinese in 2015 and the 29-year-old Brazilian made over 200 appearances for the club.

What are the numbers?

The Athletic understands Everton will pay an initial £20 million for Allan, with an additional £3 million in potential add-ons.

Were any other clubs interested?

Paris Saint-Germain have been long-term admirers of Allan and failed with a move last winter. The French giants were reluctant to meet Napoli's valuation, with president Aurelio De Laurentiis known as a particularly tough operator in the transfer market.

Juventus showed tentative interest in Allan's services this summer, but were also put off by Napoli's asking price and moved for Arthur Melo instead. That left Everton as the only serious contenders.

Where will he fit in?

Everton have lacked a combative, ball-winning presence in midfield since Idrissa Gueye's departure to PSG last summer.

Gueye's intended replacement, Jean-Philippe Gbamin struggled with injuries and made just two appearances last season, while Fabian Delph also missed large parts of the season.

Allan will be expected to plug the gap left by Gueye, adding "energy" (Ancelotti's buzzword since his arrival in December) and brawn to a midfield that toiled for long spells last season.

What does this mean for Everton's midfield?

It is likely that Allan will line up with Abdoulaye Doucoure in a new-look Everton midfield next season. Doucoure is on Merseyside ahead of a £22 million move from Watford.

The arrivals of Allan and Doucoure leave Everton with a surplus of options in midfield.

As well as these two signings and Gbamin and Delph, Everton also have Gylfi Sigurdsson, Andre Gomes, Tom Davies, Muhamed Besic and youngster Beni Baningime.

Who is likely to leave?

It is not a stretch to suggest that Everton, still intent on trimming their squad and freeing up space on the wage bill, currently have too many central midfielders at their disposal.

The Athletic recently reported interest in Sigurdsson from MLS side DC United, while Davies has also been linked with a move away from Goodison. Besic will be allowed to leave should a suitable offer arrive.

Baningime was close at one stage to joining Blackpool on loan, and is still expected to depart this summer.

And who can arrive?

As well as Doucoure's imminent arrival, Real Madrid's attacking midfielder James Rodriguez is also close to joining the club from Real Madrid. He ate dinner with Doucoure and Ancelotti on Friday evening.

(Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)

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