Carlo Ancelotti’s time at Everton felt like an era where the Toffees were preparing to take the step up to the next level.
Ancelotti was appointed as manager in December 2019 but left after two seasons in charge following a 12th place and 10th placed finish.
He was able to mastermind a first win at Anfield in the Merseyside derby since 1999 and a first win against Liverpool anywhere since 2010.
As well as some memorable nights at Goodison Park, Ancelotti was also able to bring some great talents to the club, making seven signings in total.
But how did they fare and where are they now?
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1 – Jarrad Branthwaite
- Date joined: January 2020
- Appearances for Everton: 55
- Current club: Everton
The first of the Ancelotti era, Jarrad Branthwaite joined from Carlisle United for a fee of £1m.
Branthwaite was initially brought in to develop him in the future but was awarded a debut during a 3-0 defeat in the 2019/20 Covid-hit season against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Loan moves to Blackburn Rovers and PSV Eindhoven followed before he cemented his place in the first team in the 2023/24 campaign, playing 41 times in total.
His performances have led to interest from Premier League rivals but the Toffees are holding out for a big fee.
2 – Niels Nkounkou
- Date joined: July 2020
- Appearances for Everton: 7
- Current club: Eintracht Frankfurt
Niels Nkounkou became Everton’s second signing during Ancelotti’s first full season in charge of the club.
The left-back rejected a contract from Marseille to join the Toffees on a three-year deal but never failed to set the world alight.
Most of his time on Merseyside was spent out on loan before he returned to France in January 2023, joining Saint Etienne until the end of the season before making the move permanent.
3 – Allan
- Date joined: September 2020
- Appearances for Everton: 57
- Current club: Botafogo
Allan was one of Ancelotti’s most expensive signings, joining from Napoli for a reported £25m, with the deal being considered a major coup at the time.
The Brazilian midfielder was familiar to the Italian’s game having previously played under him at Napoli.
Although he never scored, he was still vital to the way the Toffees played but left to join Al Wahda of the UAE on a free transfer in 2022, albeit under frustrating circumstances.
Nowadays Allan is back in his homeland playing for Botafogo, joining in July, where he has made nine appearances so far.
4 – James Rodriguez
- Date joined: September 2020
- Appearances for Everton: 26
- Current club: Rayo Vallecano
The biggest arrival during Ancelotti’s brief time at Goodison Park, James Rodriguez was one that got fans excited.
After his breakout performances at the 2014 World Cup, the Colombia international had earned himself a move to Real Madrid.
Ancelotti had managed Rodriguez at Madrid and Bayern Munich so it seemed a no-brainer for one Champions League winner to bring another European champion to the club.
He only lasted one season, with his form dropping off a cliff after a strong start and he ended up leaving in 2021, heading to Qatar for a huge payday.
Moves to Olympiacos and Sao Paulo followed by a return to Spain in the summer and is now at Rayo Vallecano.
5 – Abdoulaye Doucoure
- Date joined: September 2020
- Appearances for Everton: 138
- Current club: Everton
One of the two players signed by Ancelotti still at Goodison Park, Abdoulaye Doucoure is probably the most successful purchase the Italian made.
Having made over 100 appearances for the Toffees the midfielder has played an important role, including scoring the goal that kept Everton up on the final day of the 2022/23 campaign.
His contract does expire at the end of the current season and as one of the highest-earning players at the club, a decision will have to be made on his long-term future.
6 – Ben Godfrey
- Date joined: September 2020
- Appearances for Everton: 93
- Current club: Atalanta
The final signing of the summer 2020 window, Ben Godfrey was signed for a reported £20m from Norwich City.
Godfrey’s signing was initially viewed as the former York City youngster coming in as a backup, however, he ended up making 31 appearances and was awarded the fans’ Young Player of the Season.
His role would gradually decline over the years and he would largely be restricted to appearances off of the bench.
After four years at Everton, Godfrey left the club and England to make the move to Serie A and sign for Atalanta.
So far he’s managed 56 minutes of action across three appearances.
7 – Joshua King
- Date joined: January 2021
- Appearances for Everton: 11
- Current club: Toulouse
Unfortunately for Ancelotti, the final signing of his tenure would be his most forgettable.
After leaving Bournemouth, where he enjoyed the best spell of his career, Joshua King signed on a six-month deal in January 2021 until the end of the season, with a view to extending it further.
It was a miserable time as the Norway international failed to score in any of his 11 appearances and he went on to sign for Watford in the summer of 2021.
His career has never quite been the same since and after two years in Turkey at Fenerbahce, the 32-year-old signed for Toulouse this summer, where he has one goal from six games.
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