Everton Eye Anthony Martial as Free-Agent Fix After Balogun Deadline Day Collapse

Representatives for Anthony Martial have offered the 30-year-old French forward to Everton, with the club left scrambling for attacking reinforcements after a chaotic close to the transfer window.

Martial Available as a Free Agent After Monterrey Exit

Martial currently sits without a club after mutually terminating his contract with Monterrey in June. He had signed a two-year deal with the Liga MX side at the start of 2025, but both parties agreed to part ways early. His free-agent status allows any club to sign and register him outside the standard transfer window, making him an immediately available option for sides with room on their squad list.

Everton’s Deadline Day Disaster Opens the Door

According to TEAMtalk, Everton received the offer for Martial directly after enduring a damaging end to the summer window. The club had agreed a deal to bring Folarin Balogun in from Monaco, only for the American international to pull out at the final moment — despite already being at the training ground for his medical. Compounding the situation, forward Beto had already been sold to Fiorentina, leaving Thierno Barry as the squad’s only recognised striker until January at the earliest.

The squad currently numbers just 21 players, including two backup goalkeepers behind Jordan Pickford and injured midfielder Christian Norgaard.

Seven Premier League and Championship Clubs Contacted

Martial’s camp moved quickly, contacting seven clubs to flag his availability. Alongside Everton, offers were submitted to Leeds United, Crystal Palace, Brighton, Newcastle United, Sunderland, and Tottenham Hotspur. Whether any of these clubs will convert interest into a formal offer remains to be seen.

Martial’s Recent Record a Concern

His stint in Mexico produced just one goal in 20 competitive appearances. His last competitive match came in March, in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final. After departing Manchester United, he joined AEK Athens, where he scored nine goals in 24 appearances across all competitions. A return to England would also bring a reunion with his former club on the opposite side.

Martial turns 31 in December and has spent three months without a club. For Everton, stripped of depth up front and unable to land their primary target, the option carries genuine logic, even if the risk is clear. Follow TipsGG for the latest updates as this situation develops.