Alistair Johnston's future is being pulled in different directions by Everton's interest, Fulham's challenge and Celtic's asking price. One report says the Canada right-back prefers Everton, but the move only becomes realistic if the clubs can close the gap between what Celtic want and what Everton are prepared to pay.

Everton's edge in the chase

Johnston has made 122 appearances for Celtic, scoring 7 goals and providing 24 assists. That output helps explain why he is attracting attention, and why Everton would like to land a right-back who has already handled a heavy run of games at a club used to being at the top end of domestic football.

The preference angle matters here. Johnston is said to favour Everton over Fulham, which gives the Merseyside club a useful lead if they decide to push on. Michael Gannon has also reported that Everton would ideally like a deal nearer £10 million, while Celtic are said to want around £14 million plus bonuses.

Martin O'Neill has confirmed the contact from the English side. "I think Everton have been in contact," he told thehardtackle.com. "I'm not sure if a bid has been put in. In fairness, David Moyes did call me last week to say there would be contact. I don't know how far that has progressed."

The fee gap Celtic are holding on to

Celtic are not being pushed around here. O'Neill has also said the club's job is to keep key players where possible, and that replacing them would be difficult if a sale has to happen. Chris Sutton's line about the timing is blunt enough too: Celtic, he said, should not be taking calls before a major European qualifier because Johnston would be hard to replace for that game.

That is the part Everton have to solve. The player preference is helpful, but it does not buy the deal on its own. Celtic are champions, Everton finished 13th in the Premier League in 2025, and the price they are being asked to meet is still the issue sitting in the middle of the story.

Johnston's World Cup rating of 6.84 across 5 appearances suggests he has carried form into the international game as well. Everton are due to start their season on 2026-08-22, and if they want Johnston in before then, the negotiation still has to move.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →