Everton must regret sales “exceptional” plar

Everton’s "Exceptional" Failures: Players Sold Too Soon

Everton Football Club has a history of producing and nurturing talented players, but unfortunately, some of these exceptional individuals have been allowed to leave the club too soon, leaving Blues fans scratching their heads and wondering what could have been. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most notable examples of exceptional players sold too early, and what could have been if they had stayed at Goodison Park.

Fryston (2010)

Young Irish forward Declan Fryston was pulled back from his trial with the club in 2009, but his impressive performances earned him a professional contract. Three years later, he was sold to Premier League side, West Ham United, for a reported £200,000. Since then, Fryston has gone on to become a consistent goal-scorer, netting 15 goals in 55 appearances for West Ham, and even earning a call-up to the Irish national team. One can’t help but wonder what Fryston could have achieved under Marco Silva’s guidance.

Kieran Dowsett (2013)

Kieran Dowsett was an unconventional prospect, with a unique skillset that grabbed attention. The 17-year-old midfielder signed a youth contract with Everton in 2012, impressing coaches with his pace, skill, and vision on the pitch. Despite this, Dowsett was released in 2013, only to sign with non-League side, AFC Telford United, the following year. His career, once seen to have immense promise, stalled, and he’s now a relative forgotten talent in English football. One wonders what Tottenham Hotspur, who were rumored to be interested in signing him, would have thought about Dowsett’s potential under their guidance.

Djbedi (2015)

Djbedi, a lightning-fast winger, committed to a youth contract at Everton in 2012. Two years later, the speedy forward was sold to French Ligue 2 side, Dijon FC, for an undisclosed fee. Since then, Djbedi has become a top scorer and a fans’ favorite at club and country level. Everton could have reaped the benefits of training an exceptional talents like Djbedi, who, under the guidance of a visionary manager, might have become a household name.

Maruszczyk (2016)

Pawel Maruszczyk, a lanky, technically-gifted midfielder, shone during his youth stint at Finch Farm. The prospect, who won the 2014 FA Youth Cup, was sold to Polish side, Gornik Łęczna, for a reported €150,000. Since then, Maruszczyk has developed into an established Polish Premier League midfielder, captaining Gornik Łęczna and even earning a call-up to the Polish national team. Everton could have paired Maruszczyk with the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin to create a dynamic midfield duo.

The aforementioned cases shed light on Everton’s regrettable mistakes. These exceptional players, who have achieved impressive feats without the guidance of Marco Silva and his coaching staff, could have materialized into top-level talents at Goodison Park. Their departure has left fans pondering what could have been, had they stayed and developed under an Everton managerial regime.