Idrissa Gueye's contract with Everton expired on July 1, the same day Senegal exited the World Cup in the round of 32. When the Blues' squad reported to their Scottish pre-season camp this week, the midfielder was not among them. Cryptic posts from his wife—"busy packing" and "long days sorting"—have sparked speculation about his future. Everton and Gueye are exploring options with no definitive resolution.

The uncertainty

Nothing is official. No club has been named, no fee quoted, no new contract tabled. His wife Pauline's Instagram posts are suggestive, not confirmatory. They hint at a household in flux (packing boxes, sorting belongings) without explicitly stating a transfer. Speculation abounds online, but it remains speculation.

What is clear is that Gueye performed well enough at the World Cup to attract interest. Across Senegal's three matches, he averaged a 7.4 rating, a marked step above his final Premier League form (6.6 across his last two games before the tournament break). That uptick in tournament football may have caught the attention of clubs monitoring him.

Senegal's exit came after losing to Belgium in the round of 32, a collapse from 2-0 up. Contract expiration on the same day has crystallized Gueye's situation as one of the more pressing summer questions for Everton.

Everton's stakes

Everton finished 13th last season on 49 points from 38 matches, 20 adrift of Champions League qualification and only eight points above the drop zone. It was an uncomfortable mid-table squeeze. Poor form in the final stretch (LLDDL in their last five games) underscores how thin Everton's margins are.

Retaining experienced, match-fit midfielders is essential to climbing out of that position. Michael Keane has already signed a new contract after his best season in years, making 35 appearances, his highest total since 2021/22. That signals manager David Moyes intends to hold the core together. Gueye, as a ball-winning midfielder with established Premier League form, represents a similar anchor point.

The next moves will come in the coming days. Whether those conversations yield a new Everton deal, a departure, or a loan arrangement will shape the Blues' midfield depth heading into the season. For now, his seat at pre-season remains empty.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →