Hull City has made its move for Everton midfielder Tim Iroegbunam, approaching the Toffees about signing the 23-year-old on either a loan or permanent basis.

For Hull City, freshly promoted to the Premier League, adding proven top-flight midfield talent is less of a luxury and more of a survival necessity. Iroegbunam, who has logged 59 Premier League appearances for Everton since arriving in 2024, fits the profile of a player who could immediately stabilize a newly promoted squad’s engine room.

The numbers behind the move

Everton signed Iroegbunam from Aston Villa in June 2024 for a reported fee of £9M, locking him into a three-year contract. That deal runs through the summer of 2027, which gives Everton reasonable leverage in any negotiation. They don’t have to sell.

Hull City’s interest has reportedly centered around a valuation in the region of £20M. That’s more than double what Everton paid just two years ago.

A £20M price tag for a midfielder with 3 assists and 0 goals across 59 Premier League appearances is a bet on potential rather than production.

Iroegbunam’s journey so far

Born on June 30, 2003, Iroegbunam came through the youth systems at West Brom and Aston Villa before getting his first real taste of senior football on loan at Queens Park Rangers during the 2022-23 season. That spell was productive by any measure: 32 appearances and 2 goals in the Championship, enough to convince Everton he was worth the investment.

Getting 59 Premier League games under your belt by age 23 is nothing to dismiss. But three assists and zero goals across those appearances suggests a player who contributes to possession and structure without consistently creating the moments that change matches.

What this means for both clubs

For Everton, Iroegbunam still has a year left on his contract, which means this summer represents the last window where they can command a significant fee. Everton’s well-documented financial constraints over recent years make the idea of turning a £9M purchase into a £20M sale genuinely appealing.

Reports have suggested that internal disagreements at Everton and difficulties agreeing on terms have complicated the process, and the deal ultimately collapsed due to a failure to agree on terms.