Richarlison looks to be edging closer to a sentimental switch back to Everton, with reports suggesting a £35m deal is taking shape that would send the Tottenham forward back to Goodison Park — with Iliman Ndiaye moving the other way in a separate £60m transfer.
The Brazilian was left out of Roberto De Zerbi’s matchday squad entirely for Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at home to Newcastle, adding weight to the growing exit talk. Richarlison, 29, spent four years on Merseyside between 2018 and 2022 before his £60m switch to north London, and his second spell at the club now looks to be nearing its end.
Stirring the pot further, the striker posted a cryptic message to Instagram — a photo of graffiti reading, in translation, that he considers himself unfairly cast as the antagonist in stories he had no real hand in. He added a thinking emoji, leaving fans to speculate over exactly what — or who — he meant. Team-mate Xavi Simons liking the post only deepened the intrigue.
De Zerbi has since confirmed that Richarlison was among a trio of players who’d made their wish to leave known. The Spurs boss said the forward had repeatedly voiced his desire to move on, and revealed Kevin Danso and Pape Matar Sarr had made similar requests, though Sarr’s situation was complicated by a minor injury at the time.
Since his £60m arrival from Everton, Richarlison has scored 32 goals in 134 Tottenham appearances and played his part in the club’s historic 2025 Europa League final win over Manchester United. His first spell at Everton was similarly fruitful, with 53 goals in 152 games for the Toffees.
