Everton have agreed a permanent deal with Chelsea to sign highly-rated winger Tyrique George in a transfer worth up to £24 million (approx. ₦44 billion), Soccernet.ng reports.
The move is an important step for the 20-year-old, who impressed during his loan spell at Goodison Park and is also attracting attention from Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle because he is eligible to play for Nigeria.
The agreement will see Everton pay £18 million immediately, while another £6 million could be paid later if George meets certain performance targets, including appearances and the club qualifying for European competitions. Chelsea have also included a 15% sell-on clause, meaning they will receive part of any future transfer fee if Everton sell him.
Everton had the chance to buy George for £25 million after his loan spell 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. The transfer is now expected to be completed once George passes his medical examination and agrees personal terms.
The winger is set to become Everton's second major signing of the summer transfer window after the arrival of midfielder Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough, as Moyes continues rebuilding his squad ahead of the new Premier League season.
Nigeria remain interested as Chelle monitors George's progress at Everton
George's transfer will also be watched closely in Nigeria because the talented winger is still eligible to represent the Super Eagles at senior international level.
Born in Camden, London, George qualifies for Nigeria through his Nigerian father, while his mother is Ghanaian. Since he has not played a competitive senior international match, he can still choose between Nigeria, England and Ghana.
Although George has represented England at youth level from the Under-15 team up to the Under-21s, he has openly spoken about his Nigerian roots during a Chelsea interview. Those comments 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. He joined the club 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, although England and Ghana remain in the race for his international future.
