Season › 2024-25 › News Dominic Calvert-Lewin exit symbolic of a fresh start for Everton Harry Diamond 30/06/2025 27comments | Jump to last The inevitable news that Dominic Calvert-Lewin would not be extending his time at Everton was confirmed this week. With his contract due to expire at the end of June and no public progress on an extension, the announcement of his departure was one that caused little surprise. With Calvert-Lewin leaving, Richarlison and Abdoulaye Doucoure gone, and Michael Keane seemingly set to follow, it means each of the goalscorers from recent relegation escapes against Crystal Palace and Bournemouth are no longer with the club. Their roles - and in particular those goals - deserve gratitude, but simultaneously, their exits can pave the path for a new, upward era. Calvert-Lewin, Keane and Doucoure all divided opinion. Honest? No doubt. Frustrating? Certainly. The former leaves with a sincere statement and, for most, exceeded expectations for a £1.5m signing from the third tier. Just two players have scored more Premier League goals for Everton. But Calvert-Lewin’s legacy lies somewhere, muddied, between unfulfilled potential and flash in the pan. Under Carlo Ancelotti, he proved himself as a quality operator, scoring 36 goals over two seasons and breaking into the England set-up. However, those seasons proved to be the exception, rather than the rule. Injuries, in which he admitted playing through the pain barrier, no doubt held him back, as did an inability to refine his finishing to a consistent standard. There were rare flashes of the Calvert-Lewin of Ancelotti’s tenure. That header against Crystal Palace combined timing, technique and bravery. In April 2024, he tormented Liverpool in the derby win at Goodison. The usually staunch Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate were visibly unnerved, his performance capped with another magnificent header. But the numbers underline the inconsistency that plagued him. He scored just three times in the Premier League last season. Beto, in contrast, netted eight goals from 83 fewer minutes. We won’t even get into the well-documented xG underperformance that has followed Calvert-Lewin’s career and supported his social media critics. So, off he goes in pursuit of a new challenge. Many will wish him well. Others may feel unhappy with the manner of his exit. Both feelings have validity. Calvert-Lewin has been a fine servant. When fit, he battled as hard as anyone during a challenging period on and off the pitch. Though on the evidence of the last four seasons, his departure is not the blow it might once have been. Instead, it can symbolise a fresh start. Moyes’s first full season. Squad surgery, unlike anything in recent Premier League memory. The move to Bramley-Moore Dock. Sure, there’s plenty of work to be done before Everton head to Elland Road to face Leeds United on 18 August, but there’s also plenty to be excited about. Let’s see what July brings. Reader Comments (27) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer () Eddie Palin 1 Posted 30/06/2025 at 11:58:11 I personally have no ill will toward Dominic. Having said that, I'm somewhat relieved he has not accepted a new contract. He seems to overestimate his own ability and track record. I think offering him a new contract would be like signing a very good goalkeeper who had just had both hands amputated. Ian Jones 2 Posted 30/06/2025 at 12:37:11 Neil Lawson 3 Posted 30/06/2025 at 12:55:59 Do we need another thread dealing with DCL departure? 250 + comments on the earlier one.Dom is goneLet's move on. Phil Roberts 4 Posted 30/06/2025 at 13:02:46 yes Neil we do because ToffeeWeb has been sold and the new owners need to generate traffic for the advertising revenue. Derek Knox 5 Posted 30/06/2025 at 13:17:59 Eddie @ 1, Where did you hear or read about our interest in back up keeper Hans Kutov?Do you think this has legs? :-) Ian Wilkins 6 Posted 30/06/2025 at 13:21:32 1st July tomorrow, new financial year. Time to start talking about additions to the squad, incoming loans, free transfers. The squad urgently needs boosting, from all the above sources. I hope we can make moves quickly and smartly otherwise the bedding in process will last well into the new season. Please God there's a plan… Danny O'Neill 7 Posted 30/06/2025 at 13:26:28 What is more of interest now, and it is just a passing interest, now that he's not an Everton player, is where he ends up.If its to meet his European aspirations, I can't see any of the Champions League qualifiers stepping in. Tottenham at a push. Villa, unless pushed by PSR or the player, wont be selling Watkins.Forest? Other than that, I can't see much outside of the promoted teams if he stays in this country. He might be better off going to the continent. Martin Farrington 8 Posted 30/06/2025 at 13:30:38 Football is a game which divides opinions. Thats for sure. However, what doesn't, is a need to stay in the Premier League. To do that, you have to produce. As a forward, you have to score or be the provider to those who do. Dominic became neither. Unable to play for the majority of the last four seasons when Everton were at their lowest. When they required a dominant scorer, he wasn't. In fact over his career at Everton, he has statistically been deeply disappointing. Except for the two Ancelotti seasons, Dominic really hasn't had anything to stand up and shout about. Failing to replicate the seasons which saw him drawn into the England fold must be as devastating for him as us. That he will be mainly thanked for one winning goal against Liverpool shows how his career here has petered out, akin to the club itself.We move on. So does he. I wish him good fortune. Michael Connelly 9 Posted 30/06/2025 at 13:39:31 Calvert-Lewin getting praise for digging us out of a couple of holes; must not forget that he was part of the reason we were in those holes in the first place, through a combination of poor finishing and being out injured. Ultimately, he has no place in a Top 4 or Top 6 side, which we aspire to be. Christy Ring 10 Posted 30/06/2025 at 13:46:18 It's Dom's fault for being injured, Michael?Ridiculous. Neil Thomas 11 Posted 30/06/2025 at 13:59:49 How are we supposed to buy anyone, when Chelsea seems to be buying every player out there? I see now that they have been linked with Tete. How the hell can they get away with this, when we get penalised for going £19M over? It seems like the authorities are just looking after the billionaire clubs and sod the rest. It's scandalous. Ray Robinson 12 Posted 30/06/2025 at 14:11:49 Neil, that's bugging me too. How on Earth are Chelsea getting away with it? There modus operandum is immoral, anti-competitive and akin to player trafficking.I felt similarly aggrieved when Forest bought 43 players in two seasons to effectively buy their survival. How on Earth are United continuing to be linked with mega expensive players when Radcliffe is laying off staff "in order to stave off insolvency"?The authorities have got to get a grip! Mark Yeomans 14 Posted 30/06/2025 at 14:51:01 Danny @ 7I agree, can’t see where he fits in to any prem need, bar the x3 promoted.Doubt spurs, with solanke plus a back up as Richarlison Plus they have the money now CL, to buy better Can see a French club move Stephen Davies 15 Posted 30/06/2025 at 14:52:23 Michael Keane Contract talks opened Liam Mogan 16 Posted 30/06/2025 at 14:53:29 I think someone playing in European competitions may pick him up, mostly as a squad player? Liam Mogan 17 Posted 30/06/2025 at 15:14:45 Ray 12 - its all nonsense isn't it?Villa are selling their women's team to themselves to get round FFP. Looks like our management was just not Machiavellian enough at finding ways around these rules. John Chambers 18 Posted 30/06/2025 at 15:17:52 Ray, Neil, according to Transfer Market Chelsea already have 44 professionals registered for at least the next 12 months prior to Pedro and Gittens. We have 16!I know they can only register 25 players in the Premier League squad but perhaps there needs to be some form of limit on the total number a club can register e.g. only allow 25 non "homegrown" players Christine Foster 19 Posted 30/06/2025 at 15:21:00 I confess I struggle with Keane being offered a new contract. How many centre backs do we need? I think if we do not get a right back then O'Brien seems to be the choice and Keane as cover if either of the other two fall over. Danny O'Neill 20 Posted 30/06/2025 at 15:25:28 Ray, Liam,Whisper it quietly, Everton are reported to be considering the same. There is apparently a loophole, but I don't think it will be long before the FA closes it. I don't think this is where I first saw it, but this from the BBC 3 days ago.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c89eg19deykoSomeone with more knowledge than me will need to examine the details, as I will just confuse myself. But between £60 and £65M revenue generation. Sounds like money laundering, but I'm no financial expert.Villa are about to make £55M by selling theirs to themselves. I've no idea how it works, but that money will go against the male team's income to help them avoid PSR sanctions. Liam Mogan 21 Posted 30/06/2025 at 15:27:46 I struggle with the fact that Keane is not good enough to consistently play in the PL, Christine.It may just be a 'needs must' one year deal to ensure we have enough cover? Suppose there may be a few more games I have to watch through my fingers! Liam Mogan 22 Posted 30/06/2025 at 15:28:59 If Everton try and do it Danny, that loophole will be tied shut in seconds! Ryan Holroyd 23 Posted 30/06/2025 at 15:33:18 Tete staying at Fulham by the sounds of it. We don’t seem to be an attractive proposition for players Christine Foster 24 Posted 30/06/2025 at 15:34:13 The problem with Keane is poor positional sense, ball watching and slow reactions. Any of which would be disastrous as a centre back in the Premier league. He just cannot read or recover quickly enough, but if it's needs must I would rather have had DCL as a make weight. Bill Hawker 25 Posted 30/06/2025 at 15:49:04 Good for him.Good for us.Time to move on for both parties. Ray Robinson 26 Posted 30/06/2025 at 15:51:05 Considering that today is the closing date for 16 of the 20 Premier League Clubs' 2024/2025 accounts for PSR calculations (Burnley's is end of July), how come there haven't been more last minute fire sales to guarantee compliance? If Villa do sell their women's team to themselves, doesn't it have to be completed by midnight tonight? Weren't Villa, United and Newcastle up against PSR limits? What's changed today to improve their situation? Are we to see a flurry of backdated transfers announced tomorrow when the majority of clubs enter a new accouting year?I thought that I had a reasonable grasp of accountancy principles but the whole farce leaves me bamboozled. Danny O'Neill 27 Posted 30/06/2025 at 15:55:27 Christine, everything we've said about Michael Keane over the years. He just hasn't lived up to any kind of expectation and given us more groans than the admittedly great moments. Best for him to move on for me.Liam, I can hear the men in grey suits in central London now."Have you seen what the Scouse bar stewards are trying now? New rich owners. New iconic stadium. Now trying to break our beloved inner circle of clubs. We need to act"!!! Danny O'Neill 28 Posted 30/06/2025 at 16:15:18 It will have to be announced today Ryan. He's a free agent at midnight. Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. How to get rid of these ads and support TW © ToffeeWeb