Everton players set for pre-season return as club embarks on historic summer

Everton’s Pre-Season Begins with Key Player Assessments and New Chapter Preparations

The first team players of Everton Football Club will begin reporting back to Finch Farm this morning, officially kicking off the 2025/26 pre-season campaign. It has been six weeks since their memorable final-day victory away at Newcastle United, and today marks the beginning of a crucial preparation period ahead of a transformative season for the club.

As is customary across Premier League sides, the opening day of pre-season will primarily be dedicated to player assessments. Everton’s medical and performance staff will put players through a range of fitness, physical, and medical evaluations to establish post-break conditioning levels and tailor training loads for the weeks ahead.

This return to Finch Farm comes during what has already been a historic and emotionally charged summer for the Toffees. The end of the last campaign marked a heartfelt farewell to Goodison Park, the club’s iconic home for the past 133 years. The move away from the Grand Old Lady marks the end of an era, and players and fans alike are now turning their focus toward a bold new chapter on the Liverpool waterfront at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Manager David Moyes, who returned to the club earlier this year, had initially hoped to begin familiarizing his squad with their new home ground before the end of last season. However, construction timelines and logistical planning have delayed that opportunity. Instead, the first official fixture at the Hill Dickinson Stadium will be held on August 9, when Everton host Italian giants AS Roma in what will be a grand pre-season finale and stadium unveiling.

Before that much-anticipated night under the lights, Everton have several other important friendlies lined up. They will begin their pre-season schedule with away matches at League Two side Accrington Stanley and Championship club Blackburn Rovers. Shortly after, the squad will travel across the Atlantic for a tour of the United States as part of the Premier League Summer Series. During that trip, they will take on Manchester United in New Jersey, Bournemouth in Chicago, and West Ham United in Atlanta – fixtures that will provide stern tests against top-flight opposition and offer Moyes valuable insight into his squad’s readiness.

Among those returning to Finch Farm this week will be highly rated centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, who recently committed his long-term future to Everton by signing a new five-year contract. Branthwaite, who missed the final matches of last season through injury, will be closely monitored in the early days of training. Joining him in recovery mode are fellow first-teamers James Tarkowski and Tim Iroegbunam, both of whom also ended the campaign on the sidelines. Tarkowski’s situation is the most concerning, as the veteran defender’s hamstring injury sustained against Manchester City may delay his return to full training and affect his availability in the early part of pre-season.

One of the more positive updates is the return of Carlos Alcaraz, who has now officially joined Everton on a permanent deal following a successful loan stint from Flamengo. Alcaraz impressed enough during his temporary spell to convince the club to make the move permanent, and he will now aim to play a bigger role in Moyes’ plans.

However, several familiar faces from last season will be notably absent. Long-time striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, midfield powerhouse Abdoulaye Doucoure, veteran full-back Ashley Young, goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, and reserve stopper Joao Virginia have all departed the club following the expiration of their contracts. While their departures mark the end of various impactful spells in blue, Everton are already looking ahead to secure stability, with contract extension talks underway for experienced duo Idrissa Gana Gueye and Michael Keane.

As the 2025/26 campaign approaches, Everton find themselves at a pivotal juncture. A new stadium, new leadership, and a refreshed squad mean that expectations are high and change is in the air. For David Moyes and his team, the work starts now – and every training session, friendly match, and decision over the coming weeks will play a part in shaping the next chapter of this proud football club’s story.