Erling Haaland, the current Manchester City phenomenon and one of the most lethal strikers in the world, was very close to signing with Everton for a surprisingly low fee: just two million euros! However, the English club’s board rejected the opportunity, missing the chance to secure a talent that would later revolutionize world football.

Haaland: A Slump Unworthy of the Viking “Killer”

Steve Walsh, who served as Everton's Director of Football between 2016 and 2018, revealed that Haaland's signing was almost finalized when the player was just 15 or 16 years old. According to Walsh, the young striker and his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, even visited the club's facilities. Yet, the lack of financial backing from Everton's management ultimately stopped the deal.

This wasn’t the only time Everton passed on promising talent. Walsh also disclosed that he had proposed signing Andrew Robertson and Harry Maguire, two players who later became key figures for their teams and the England national squad. Additionally, defender Jonny Evans was on Everton's radar before his move to Leicester, but once again, the board’s decisions thwarted the transfer.

A decision that defined Everton's recent history

Now, with Haaland breaking scoring records and shining in the Premier League with Manchester City, the decision to reject him for just two million stands out as one of the biggest missed opportunities in recent English football history. For Everton, this episode remains a painful lesson on the importance of betting on young talent.

Would Haaland's story have been different if he had joined Goodison Park? We’ll never know. But one thing is certain: his name will remain synonymous with goals, while Everton is left with the bitter memory of what could have been.