Everton showed interest in Harry Wilson this year, and his reasons for joining Leeds United suggest a move to Hill Dickinson Stadium was always unlikely.
Everton first showed interest in Wilson in January, with the player’s contract at Fulham expiring in the summer.
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There was to be no cut-price move in the mid-season window though, with Fulham retaining him until the end of the campaign.
The Cottagers had wanted to extend his deal, but he ended up moving on – and it was Leeds who won the race for Wilson, leaving a few Everton fans disappointed.
And what Wilson has said suggests that Everton were always going to struggle to lure him to the Hill Dickinson.
Harry Wilson was seemingly never joining Everton
Everton are in the market for new wide players this summer, and have already brought back Tyrique George on a permanent deal.
But with uncertainty over Jack Grealish, Dwight McNeil and Tyler Dibling, the club are looking to make at least one more addition.
Wilson was a player who was discussed both in January and in recent weeks.
But links to Wilson were actually quite scarce in the end, given his contract was running out – and Wilson’s comments about joining Leeds perhaps explain why.
He said (via The Athletic): “Speaking with the manager here, he’s told me I’m a player he’s watched for years and tried to get me at a couple of clubs in the past and obviously last summer as well. To have a manager, when he isn’t your manager, who watches you from the outside, that’s important.”
| Harry Wilson in the Premier League |
| Appearances – 156 |
| Goals – 29 |
| Assists – 21 |
Wilson did suggest that other clubs were in for him, but Leeds were clearly the only team he truly had eyes for in the end.
He added: “Being a free agent at the end of the season, I did have a few options,” he said. “Ultimately, I wanted to stay in the Premier League.
“For me, it’s the best league in the world and I feel like I still have a lot more to give. It was important for me to stay in this league and when I was speaking with Leeds, I felt they were the club that really wanted me, were pushing for me and that was important to feel wanted, to feel loved because if you feel that, you perform better on the pitch.”
Interestingly, there is also a line stating that Wilson had incessant calls with Ethan Ampadu about life at Leeds. The pair are international teammates with Wales.
It is also suggested that the system that Leeds finished the 2025/26 season in suits Wilson, who has experience of it with both Wales and Fulham.
It’s a shame that Everton could not win the race for Wilson.
Ultimately, he is a Premier League winger with proven output and his ability to make things happen in the final third would really have helped Everton.
Seemingly though, the Toffees never really stood a chance here, and we’ll now see Wilson turning out at Elland Road.
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