Everton Assessing Sam Johnstone Deal: Transfer Update 2026

Key Points

• Everton are assessing a potential deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, according to the Daily Mail.
• The move would see Johnstone join Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium, with David Moyes seeking a quality cover for first‑choice Jordan Pickford.
• Coventry City are reportedly looking to sign Everton’s current understudy Mark Travers, which adds urgency to Everton’s search for a backup.
• Johnstone has 375 professional appearances, including 85 Premier League games, giving him the experience Moyes wants.
• At 33, Johnstone is an England international who last played for the Three Lions in 2023 and still hopes to feature for England again.
• Remaining in the Premier League after Wolves’ relegation is expected to appeal to Johnstone.
• If he joins Everton, Johnstone would likely be a bench option behind Pickford, who remains No. 1 for club and country.
• Everton also had Leeds United’s Karl Darlow on their radar, but the Wales international is now expected to join Manchester United.
• Manchester United were considering Johnstone but have chosen Darlow instead.
• Some Championship clubs are likely to offer Johnstone a first‑choice role next season, which could tempt him away from Everton.
• Everton’s other summer activity includes Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough, and permanent signings of Tyrique George from Chelsea and Merlin Rohl from Freiburg [source query].

 Everton FC (Liverpool standard) July 11, 2026 – uk/local/everton/">Everton are assessing a deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, a report by the Daily Mail has said, as manager David Moyes seeks a reliable cover for Jordan Pickford amid uncertainty over his current understudy Mark Travers. The potential move would bring an experienced Premier League goalie to Merseyside, with Johnstone’s 375 professional appearances, including 85 in the top flight, seen as a major asset for Moyes’ squad planning.

As reported by the Daily Mail’s football team, Everton manager David Moyes wants a quality cover for Toffees first‑choice Jordan Pickford as Coventry City are looking to sign his current understudy Mark Travers. The situation has pushed Everton to examine several options, with Johnstone now standing out as a realistic Premier League‑available candidate who could be open to a move despite not being guaranteed first‑choice status.

Why Is Moyes Targeting Sam Johnstone?

Johnstone has much‑needed experience having featured in 375 games as a professional, with 85 of those appearances coming in the Premier League, according to the Daily Mail. That depth of top‑flight experience is precisely what Moyes is looking for in a backup who can step in without a drop in reliability when Pickford is unavailable.

The 33‑year‑old England international could be open to joining Everton, but an opportunity to be number 1 elsewhere could be more appealing, the report notes. Johnstone, who last played for the Three Lions in 2023 and has yet to retire, is still harbouring the thoughts of featuring for England again, which makes remaining in the Premier League following Wolves’ relegation a significant factor in his decision.

How Does This Fit Into Everton’s 2026 Squad Plan?

Pickford remains No. 1 for club and country and the Toffees also have others on their radar as they eye a new addition in goal, the Daily Mail states. If Johnstone joins, he would have to settle for a place on the Everton bench if he opts to move to the Merseyside club, with Pickford’s status as the undisputed first choice unlikely to change.

They had Leeds United’s Karl Darlow on their radar, but the Wales international is now expected to join Manchester United, according to the same report. The Red Devils were also considering a move for Johnstone but have chosen his Welsh counterpart, reducing the competition for Johnstone from United but increasing the likelihood that Championship clubs will court him.

What Are Johnstone’s Other Options?

Some clubs in the Championship are likely to offer to make him their new first‑choice goalie next season, the Daily Mail reports. That scenario could be more attractive than playing second‑choice at Everton, especially for a player who still aims to reclaim an England spot.

The Everton target will not be short of suitors but may need to settle for the Toffees if he wants to continue in the Premier League, the report concludes. This creates a tension between Johnstone’s ambition to be a number 1 and his desire to stay in the top flight, with Everton’s offer representing a compromise.

What Else Has Everton Done This Summer?

The Blues have signed Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough, while Tyrique George and Merlin Rohl have joined permanently from Chelsea and Freiburg, respectively, according to the background information provided in the original story . These moves indicate that Everton are building a competitive squad across multiple areas, with goalkeeping being one of several priority departments .

Strategic Context for Moyes

Moyes’ focus on securing a reliable backup goalkeeper fits into a broader strategy of strengthening the squad depth to handle a long Premier League season, injuries and fixture congestion. Adding Johnstone would give him a proven Premier League operator behind Pickford, which could be crucial in moments when the first choice is sidelined.

Background: How Wolves’ Relegation and Everton’s Squad Needs Led Here

Sam Johnstone’s situation is directly tied to Wolverhampton Wanderers’ relegation from the Premier League, which has left him with a choice between staying in Wales as a projected number 1 in the Championship or moving to a Premier League club where he would likely be second choice. Everton, meanwhile, face a specific gap in their understudy role after Mark Travers became a target for Coventry City, forcing Moyes to look externally for a goalkeeper with top‑flight experience.

The combination of these factors Johnstone’s desire to remain in the Premier League and Everton’s need for a reliable backup has created a natural alignment, even if the deal requires Johnstone to accept a reduced role. Manchester United’s decision to pursue Karl Darlow instead of Johnstone further narrows the top‑flight options for Johnstone, potentially making Everton’s offer more attractive.

Prediction: How This Development Could Affect Everton Fans and the Club’s 2026 Season

If Everton secure Sam Johnstone, the immediate impact on fans is likely to be a sense of reassurance that the club has addressd a potential vulnerability in goalkeeping cover, especially after reports of Travers being targeted by Coventry City. In practical terms, a Johnstone signing would mean fewer emergency goalkeeper scenarios during a long season, giving Moyes more flexibility to manage Pickford’s workload and handle injuries without compromising performance.

For the club’s 2026 season, the move could also influence Everton’s consistency in tight matches where a single mistake can change the outcome. A proven Premier League backup offers a higher probability of maintaining standards when Pickford is unavailable, which over time could translate into more points and a more stable league position. However, if Johnstone opts for a Championship first‑choice role instead, Everton may need to revisit their options, potentially delaying reinforcement and leaving the goalkeeping backup spot more exposed for the early part of the campaign.

For fans in Islamabad and elsewhere following Everton, the Johnstone story is part of a broader summer narrative in which the club is actively reshaping its squad under Moyes, with signings like Hayden Hackney, Tyrique George and Merlin Rohl indicating a clear intent to build a more competitive team [source query]. Whether Johnstone joins or not, the direction is clear: Everton are aiming to strengthen depth and quality across the squad, and the goalkeeping situation is a key piece of that puzzle.