Everton news

There's been a lot of talk lately about the Premier League as a product. Is modern football actually boring? Are teams now too reliant on set pieces to score goals? Are the mavericks and the willing protagonists being silenced just to preserve their manager's tactics? Have we gone too far in pursuit of sporting perfection?

Wayne Rooney has brutally advised Jack Grealish to "book his summer holiday" for 2026 as there is little chance of him earning an England recall for the World Cup finals. The Everton loanee has rediscovered his spark after leaving Manchester City for Merseyside, but Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel continues to ignore him. That situation is not expected to change any time soon.

Ex-Everton and Real Madrid player Royston Drenthe is in an "intensive rehabilitation process" as he recovers from a stroke that he suffered in October. The 38-year-old was hospitalised last month and has since entered a crucial phase of his recovery.

Mainz have lost their legal battle against former player Anwar El Ghazi after a court ruled that the Dutch winger’s dismissal over pro-Palestine social media posts was invalid. The verdict upholds an earlier decision made in the summer of 2024, forcing the Bundesliga club to honour his full salary for his time with them.

Jack Grealish has been announced as the 2025 winner of the Herman Ouseley Award for Equality and Inclusion, presented the accolade by Kick It Out chief executive Samuel Okafor. The award is named for the Kick It Out founder and former chair, Lord Herman Ouseley, who passed away last year, and under a previous guise has been won in the past by Sir Gareth Southgate and Troy Deeney.

The Premier League has approved Arsenal's application for their game against Everton on December 21 to be pushed forward after Mikel Arteta complained about fixture congestion. With the Gunners progressing to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, where they are scheduled to face Crystal Palace on December 23, the club wanted to avoid playing two matches in the span of just three days.

Everton defender Jake O'Brien has bought a protection dog to keep his family safe as more Premier League stars are adopting new ways to maintain home security. The purchase comes after a string of high-profile robbery cases where Premier League players have fallen victim, including O'Brien's current Toffees team-mate Jack Grealish, who lost jewellery worth £1million due to a robbery in 2023.

Jude Bellingham has been recalled by England for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania. The Real Madrid superstar was left out of Thomas Tuchel's selection in October, amid questions of his character, but has been drafted back into the Three Lions fold for November internationals. Phil Foden has also been selected, while there is a shock first call-up for Alex Scott.

Wayne Rooney has opened up on a remarkable story from his teenage years at Everton, when then-manager David Moyes banned his then-girlfriend, Coleen, from attending the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards. In 2002, a 17-year-old Rooney had the football world at his feet. Bursting onto the Premier League scene with Everton, he lit up Goodison Park with flashes of talent that defied his age. One of those moments, including a thunderous winner against Arsenal, etched his name into English football folklore and earned him the BBC’s Young Sports Personality of the Year award.

The home defeat by Aston Villa and a dire performance away at Monaco means the clash with Everton has taken on significant importance for Tottenham. And the Spurs boss Thomas Frank has identified the player who is most likely to pull the strings for the hosts as the visitors look for their first win at Everton since back in 2018.

Everton have been hit with more injury problems as star defender Jarrad Branthwaite requires surgery to fix an ongoing issue. Branthwaite has not appeared for the Toffees this season after sustaining a hamstring injury during pre-season training. While the club initially described it as a 'minor niggle' back in July, they have now confirmed a more serious lay-off.

Former Real Madrid and Everton player Royston Drenthe, 38, was rushed to a hospital in the Netherlands after suffering a stroke on Friday. His current team, FC De Rebellen, a Dutch team of former footballers, confirmed the news on Instagram. Drenthe is currently receiving expert medical attention and is said to be in "good hands".

England legend Paul Gascoigne has made the stark admission that he will never stop drinking, despite the devastating effect alcohol has had on his personal and professional life. 'Gazza', now 58 years old, enjoyed an illustrious career on the pitch for Tottenham, Lazio, Rangers and England, but was dogged by serious issues off it, often linked to the abuse of drink and drugs.