Mauro Icardi: Everton's Free-Agent Striker Solution
Everton are weighing up a move for Mauro Icardi as David Moyes hunts for a much-needed centre-forward in the free-agent market.
The Argentine, who built his reputation at Inter Milan and later led the line for Paris Saint-Germain, is without a club after leaving Galatasaray when his contract expired at the end of the 2025-26 season. Now, at 33, he could finally be headed for a first crack at the Premier League.
Everton’s striker problem
Moyes has a clear issue: he only has one natural number nine in his senior squad. Thierno Barry is carrying the load up front, and it shows. The young forward is still learning the role and has been wasteful in recent outings, leaving Everton short of cutting edge in the penalty area.
The failed deadline-day move for Folarin Balogun underlined the problem. Once that deal collapsed, Everton pivoted quickly, turning their attention to the pool of free agents. Among the names on the table, Icardi stands out.
The Hill Dickinson Stadium hierarchy are actively exploring short-term attacking solutions, and a proven finisher available without a transfer fee is an obvious temptation.
Icardi offered to Everton
According to TyC Sports journalist German Garcia Grova, speaking on 7 September, Icardi has been formally offered to Everton. The message from the player’s camp is clear: they are open to the Blues as a next destination.
Everton are considering the option rather than rushing into it. The club know exactly what they would be getting: not the explosive, all-action forward of his early Inter days, but a penalty-box predator who still punishes mistakes.
Last season at Galatasaray, Icardi scored 16 goals in all competitions, most of them as a substitute, with Victor Osimhen preferred as the first-choice striker. Even in a reduced role, the Argentine kept his numbers sharp.
Why Moyes might gamble
Icardi no longer relies on pace or power. That part of his game has faded. What remains is his greatest strength: ruthless finishing.
In the Super Lig last season he struck 14 league goals, converting chances at a rate of 24 per cent and outperforming an expected goals tally of 10.53, according to Sofascore. Those are the numbers of a forward who still needs only a glimpse to score.
He also showed he can still operate at a high level, facing sides like Liverpool and Juventus in the Champions League. The stage did not overwhelm him; it rarely has. Dropping him into L3, with Everton desperate for someone to turn half-chances into points, has an obvious logic.
For Moyes, the equation is simple. Barry brings mobility and potential, but not yet reliability. Icardi brings experience, craft in tight spaces and an instinct for where the ball will drop inside the box. He would not transform Everton’s style, but he could transform their margins.
Decision time at Hill Dickinson
Everton now stand at a crossroads. Do they move quickly to bring in Icardi and shore up their attack for the first half of the season, or do they hold their nerve and wait until January for alternative targets?
The interest is real, the opportunity is there, and the need for goals is obvious. The next move belongs to Everton – and to a striker who might see Merseyside as his last big stage.
