Everton’s deadline-day loan deal for Charly Alcaraz from Flamengo took longer than expected, culminating in a late-night submission of a deal sheet after the 11 pm deadline.
Although Flamengo had announced the transfer three days before the deal was officially completed, confusion surrounded the delay. It became clear that the delay was due to lingering negotiations regarding the terms of the deal, particularly around a conditional obligation to buy clause, which played a crucial role in the move’s finalization.
The deal’s most time-consuming aspect was finalizing terms with Alcaraz, who joined on an initial loan with a clause that could see the move become permanent. The key condition in the agreement is that Everton must sign Alcaraz for €20m (£16.6m, $20.8m) if the 22-year-old midfielder makes at least eight appearances before the end of the season.
This clause provides both the player and the club with a clear timeframe to assess Alcaraz’s suitability to the Premier League. For Everton, this offers flexibility, as they have time to evaluate his performances and decide if he is a long-term addition.
David Moyes, who has played a crucial role in Everton’s player recruitment, was involved in the discussions around the number of appearances required for the obligation to buy to be triggered.
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Moyes gave input on what he felt was an appropriate threshold of games, leading to an agreement that Alcaraz would need to make eight appearances for the clause to kick in. This decision, along with other elements of the agreement, led to a final sign-off on the deal, with the contract officially sealed just after midnight.
Everton also negotiated a provision in the deal allowing them to terminate the loan should Alcaraz suffer a long-term injury, further complicating the negotiations and extending the timeline. Premier League rules provided Everton with an extra two hours to negotiate loan deals if they submitted a deal sheet before the 11 pm deadline, which allowed the Toffees to finalize the agreement despite the late hour. This was beneficial for the club’s financial situation, as the payment for Alcaraz will be deferred into the next financial year, helping to manage their PSR (Profitability and Sustainability) constraints.
Alcaraz arrives at Everton with a solid track record from his time at Southampton, where he scored four goals and provided two assists in 18 Premier League appearances during the 2022/23 season.
Alcaraz Ready to Play
Known for his tenacity in midfield and his ability to play in a variety of attacking roles, Alcaraz will be eager to prove himself at Goodison Park. His arrival gives Everton more depth in midfield, and the club now has plenty of time to evaluate him during the remaining 15 Premier League games of the season, as well as their FA Cup campaign.
While Alcaraz’s signing was the key focus for Everton in January, the club was unable to secure a new striker to cover for injuries to Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Armando Broja. The lack of viable striker options, combined with concerns over PSR compliance and an inability to terminate Broja’s loan, meant that the club refrained from pursuing a forward.
However, the Toffees’ recent form, including three wins in four games since Moyes’ reappointment, has provided a cushion between them and the relegation zone. This has given the Friedkin Group some breathing room to focus on rebuilding the squad and making more ambitious moves in the summer.
