Everton bids for striker Joshua Zirkzee on transfer deadline day

Everton have submitted a bid for Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee as the transfer window ticks toward its close on September 1. The move represents a late twist in what has been a protracted saga surrounding the Dutch forward’s future at Old Trafford.

Zirkzee, 25, joined United from Bologna for £36.5 million in July 2024 and has managed nine goals in 75 appearances across two seasons. Those numbers tell the story of a player who never quite cemented his place, featuring sporadically under manager Michael Carrick rather than establishing himself as the focal point of United’s attack.

A long history of interest

Everton’s interest in Zirkzee is not a deadline-day impulse buy. The club, managed by David Moyes, has tracked the forward since his youth days, with the connection stretching back to a noteworthy trial at Goodison Park in 2017. The Toffees were also linked with a move for the striker as recently as January 2026.

Italian competition looms large

Everton’s bid faces a significant obstacle in the form of Juventus. The Turin club is reportedly in advanced negotiations with United over a deal that would see Zirkzee return to Italy on loan, with an initial fee of around £2.1 million and an option to buy in the range of £25 million to £30 million.

Juventus is not the only Serie A club that has been circling. Fiorentina had been pursuing Zirkzee as well, but their bid collapsed around the deadline after the player reportedly rejected the move.

The player’s willingness to join Everton is the critical variable. A move to Goodison Park would keep him in the Premier League but at a club currently positioned well below the elite tier. A return to Serie A with Juventus, on the other hand, offers Champions League football and a league where Zirkzee already proved he can thrive.

What this means for both clubs

Everton would almost certainly need a loan structure similar to what Juventus is negotiating, given the Toffees’ well-documented financial constraints under Premier League profit and sustainability rules. Whether United would entertain keeping Zirkzee at a domestic rival on favorable terms is another question entirely.

For United, freeing up Zirkzee’s wages creates room for other moves. The difference between accepting Everton’s offer and Juventus’ offer may come down to which deal is more likely to convert into a permanent sale, removing the player from the books entirely.

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