Joshua Zirkzee to Everton
This move fell through. Last report: Sacha Tavolieri, 1 September 2026.
The move is dead. Manchester United have told Joshua Zirkzee's camp he is staying at Old Trafford, and Everton's loan proposal, which came with an option to buy, has been turned down. For a stretch of deadline day it looked live: Everton and the player had reportedly agreed personal terms, with all parties working at speed. Then United decided to keep the 25-year-old, partly because there was not enough time to source a replacement. The Netherlands forward is contracted until June 2029, with a club option. The sourcing here is heavyweight and unanimous. Fabrizio Romano and Ben Jacobs both reported the collapse, while Laurie Whitwell added the crucial detail that United could not find a replacement in time. Sacha Tavolieri, who earlier flagged the loan as expected, later confirmed it was off. Florian Plettenberg had earlier described an agreement between player and club. When this many reliable voices land on the same outcome, there is little room for doubt. This one is done, and not in Everton's favour. With United publicly closing the door and deadline day gone, the loan is a long shot bordering on impossible. For it to revive, United would need a fresh change of heart, and there is no sign of one. The block was practical: no cover, no exit. Everton have paid at this level before. They took a player from Barcelona for €20m in 2018 and another from Lyon for €20m, so a loan with a buy option for a €22m-rated forward sat comfortably within their habits. Watch whether Everton return in a future window, and whether Juventus, the strongest of Zirkzee's other links, firm up their
Who reported it
- Sacha Tavolieri, 1 September 2026: 🇳🇱🔴😈 Joshua Zirkzee loan move to Everton FC is OFF! Man Utd decides finally to keep their player. #MUFC https://t.co/LlqwK6xcc9
- Fabrizio Romano, 1 September 2026: 🚨🔴 Joshua Zirkzee will NOT leave Manchester United. #MUFC inform player’s camp about decision to keep Joshua, no chance for Deadline Day exit. Everton proposal has been immediate
- Laurie Whitwell, 1 September 2026: Manchester United have turned down Everton's proposal to take Joshua Zirkzee on loan, meaning the forward stays at Old Trafford. Not enough time to source replacement. w/ @David_Or
- Ben Jacobs, 1 September 2026: BREAKING: Manchester United have decided to KEEP Joshua Zirkzee. Everton move is off. https://t.co/qxyxfnbQvM
- Sacha Tavolieri, 1 September 2026: 🔵 Joshua Zirkzee is expected to join Everton FC on loan as things stand. #EFC
- Ben Jacobs, 1 September 2026: Understand Everton's loan offer for Zirkzee includes a buy option.🇳🇱
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