Nigeria-eligible winger George joins Everton from Chelsea in a major transfer deal

NIGERIA-eligible winger Tyrique George has joined Premier League side Everton in major deal worth about £24m that includes a 15% sell-on element under which Chelsea will receive a percentage of any future transfer proceeds.

George, 20, who was born in  London to a Ghanaian mother and a Nigerian father, signed a new three year contract with Chelsea at the start of the 2004/05 season. On 2 February 2026, however, he joined Everton on loan until the end of last season, with an option to make the deal permanent and it appeared that the Merseysiders were going to exercise that right.

Under the terms of the agreement, Everton pay £18m immediately, with another £6m paid later if George meets certain performance targets, including appearances and the club qualifying for Europe. Chelsea have also included a 15% sell-on clause, meaning they will receive part of any future transfer fee if Everton sell him on to another club.

Everton had the chance to buy George for £25m after his loan spell ended at the end of last season but chose not to activate that clause. Instead, club officials returned to the negotiating table and successfully agreed a lower guaranteed payment with Chelsea.

George spent the second half of last season on loan with the Toffees, where he made 11 Premier League appearances. His energy, pace and willingness to attack defenders quickly won over manager David Moyes, who pushed for the club to make the move permanent, which has now been finalised, subject to a medical.

This transfer is being closely watched in Nigeria because George is still eligible to represent the Super Eagles at senior international level. Although he has  played for the England U15 team, since he has not played a competitive senior international match, he can still choose between Nigeria, England and Ghana.

He has openly spoken about his Nigerian roots in the past, which brought him onto the radar of the Nigeria Football Federation and Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle, who has been searching for talented dual-nationality players capable of strengthening his squad. George is regarded as one of the brightest graduates from Chelsea's famous Cobham Academy.

George joined Chelsea when he was just eight years old and progressed through every youth level before breaking into the senior team during the 2024/25 season under Enzo Maresca. During that campaign, he scored his first senior goal in the Uefa Conference League and was also named Chelsea's Men's Academy Player of the Year.

However, Chelsea's busy recruitment drive, which brought in attacking players such as Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Alejandro Garnacho and Estêvão, reduced his chances of regular first-team football. That situation led to his loan move to Everton in February 2026 and after proving himself in the Premier League, the deal has now become permanent.

George fits the profile of the fast, direct and versatile winger that Chelle wants for the Super Eagles. If the youngster becomes a regular starter for Everton next season, his chances of receiving a first senior call-up from Nigeria could increase significantly.