Everton close in on £7m deal for Arsenal’s Christian Norgaard

Everton have agreed the framework of a £7m deal to sign Christian Norgaard from Arsenal, with David Moyes closing in on a direct replacement for Idrissa Gueye. The Danish midfielder is expected to leave the Emirates Stadium after just one season, having struggled for regular football under Mikel Arteta.

Talks between the two clubs are said to be progressing smoothly, with the fee understood to be around £7m — a significant loss for Arsenal, who paid Brentford roughly £15m for Norgaard only last summer. Should the move go through, it would represent Everton’s fourth signing of the summer window.

A quiet season in north London

Norgaard’s time at Arsenal has been short and largely peripheral. He made 20 appearances across all competitions but started only a single Premier League fixture — the final-day 2-1 win at Crystal Palace, played after the Gunners had already been crowned champions. Before that, he had accumulated just 57 minutes of top-flight football under Arteta.

It marks a stark contrast to his previous four seasons at Brentford, where he was a mainstay in midfield and eventually club captain, starting 120 Premier League matches for the Bees before his move to the Emirates.

Filling the Gueye gap

Norgaard’s arrival would give Moyes a like-for-like alternative to Idrissa Gueye, whose departure left a gap in Everton’s engine room. The Senegalese midfielder had long been valued for his energy and defensive discipline in central areas, qualities Norgaard is seen as capable of replicating at Goodison Park.

The move would follow three other additions already made by Everton this summer: fellow midfielders Merlin Rohl and Hayden Hackney, plus winger Tyrique George. Together, the signings suggest Moyes is building considerable depth and competition through the middle of the pitch ahead of the new campaign.

What it means for Arsenal

For Arsenal, sanctioning Norgaard’s exit represents a swift change of plan following last summer’s outlay, though it frees up space in a congested midfield as Arteta continues to reshape his squad following the club’s title triumph. The Gunners are believed to be relaxed about letting the 32-year-old leave, given how limited his opportunities became once the season kicked into gear.

Everton, meanwhile, will hope the switch offers Norgaard the regular football he enjoyed at Brentford, while giving Moyes a proven Premier League operator to strengthen his options as the transfer window edges towards its close.

Sources

• Sky Sports
• The Independent

This is an independent report written from the facts across the sources named above.