Everton Football Club has a rich history of American footballers gracing Goodison Park. In the Premier League era, three notable Americans have donned the Everton jersey, with one, in particular, earning legendary status.
Goalkeeper Tim Howard is a standout, having made 414 appearances for Everton. This places him ninth in the club’s all-time appearance list and second in most Premier League appearances for the Toffees. Over his nine-year tenure, Howard kept 134 clean sheets and played both domestically and in European competitions, solidifying his place in Everton history.
The other notable Americans are center-forward Joe-Max Moore and iconic USMNT midfielder Landon Donovan. Moore made 61 appearances, scoring ten goals, while Donovan, in his two seasons with Everton, scored twice and provided nine assists in just 22 games.
Given this history, it’s fitting that for their final season at Goodison Park, Everton are linked with another USMNT player who has Premier League experience.
Everton Target Onana Replacement
Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie, a 25-year-old Texas native, is the player in question. With Juventus’ new manager Thiago Motta looking to overhaul the squad, McKennie could be on his way out this summer. The Premier League, particularly Everton, could be a likely destination as they seek a replacement for Amadou Onana, who is expected to join Aston Villa in a £50m deal.
Reports from Italy indicate that Everton have contacted Juventus to inquire about McKennie’s availability. The American midfielder is not in the Turin club’s plans and is available for transfer.
However, Everton isn’t the only interested party. According to the Italian outlet Gazzetta, Inter Miami, owned by David Beckham, also wants to recruit McKennie, potentially linking him with stars like Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
Juventus is actively looking to sell McKennie, having already offloaded several players this summer. While a specific price hasn’t been set, Football Transfers suggests McKennie could cost Everton around £19m.
Despite being considered a sellable asset, McKennie played a crucial role under former manager Massimiliano Allegri last season. He featured in 38 games across all competitions, contributing ten assists, including seven in Serie A.
McKennie’s impressive assist record could make him a valuable partner for Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who scored seven goals in 32 Premier League games last season. McKennie averaged 0.97 passes and 0.38 crosses into the penalty box per game last term, ranking him in the top 9% of midfielders in Europe, according to Fbref.
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has described McKennie as “underrated,” and his proficiency in the final third supports this view. Jesse Marsch also hailed him as an “incredible” player. McKennie could be a cost-effective alternative to Onana while still bringing quality to Everton’s midfield. His potential partnership with Calvert-Lewin could be a significant asset for the Toffees in the upcoming season.
