How Everton and Arsenal finances could decide Amadou Onana future

In August 2022, Everton bought Amadou Onana from Lille, a French team, amid a financially tough time for the team.

After only £1.5 million was paid to sign Demarai Gray from Bayer Leverkusen 12 months prior, the £33 million signing of Onana by former Everton manager Frank Lampard, who succeeded Benitez, was considered noteworthy. Benitez is now the manager of another former Everton team.

Under Marcel Brands, Everton’s transfer policy was perceived as not bringing in enough younger players with high ceilings and big resale value. When Onana signed, he was 20 years old, had played in a “big five” European league, and had the necessary physical attributes.

The Belgian international had already started to carve out something of a burgeoning reputation in France, and West Ham United had been in discussions around the same time that Everton landed the midfielder.

His time at Everton has been, at best, pretty solid so far. But while his form has been in fits and starts he remains a player who is seen as having a high ceiling, who has significant value potential for Everton and could draw a major transfer fee should one of European football’s deep-pocketed giants come calling.

This January, Arsenal has been mentioned as a potential suitor for the 22-year-old. It is unclear if midfielder, at a time when the Gunners appear to need a striker, is a likely course of action for Arsenal boss and former Toffee Mikel Arteta given that the Gunners, like Everton, have some profit and sustainability concerns of their own when it comes to whether or not they can bring in new additions. The North London side spent £208 million on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Jurrien Timber in the summer.

It is difficult to believe that any player isn’t available at the proper price given Everton’s financial difficulties, but in the case of someone like Onana, aside from Jarrad Branthwaite

But to make selling Onana worthwhile it would involve drawing a significant bump in the £33m that was paid for his services in August 2022.

Onana is a little over a year into a five-year deal at Goodison Park, meaning that £6.6m of his fee has been paid down from an accounting perspective through amortisation. That means that Everton would still need to recoup some £26.4m before even being in profit, something that would likely see Everton demand more than double that before even considering selling. It is no surprise that figures north of £60m have been bandied around as being the kind of sum that would need to be on offer.

In addition, Everton, already light in numbers, would risk losing a key player and damage their chances of retaining Premier League status, which is more valuable than any fee they may be able to get for Onana in the January transfer window.

It is unlikely that Arsenal would be able to drive a hard bargain for Onana given their need to balance their spending to remain compliant following such a large summer outlay. Additionally, since Onana is one of the Everton players who does have a significant resale value, a low-ball offer won’t be entertained.

Over the past 18 months, Everton has already had to let go of two important players: Richarlison and Anthony Gordon. Both transfers were approved by Premier League competitors, which strengthened them and made Everton weaker. However, the P&S position needed to be addressed, and those two players were essential in making it happen. In the not-too-distant future, Onana may leave for a larger stage, but unless any sale sees.

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