Key dates for 2026 summer as Everton return to preseason training

The Everton players not involved with their national teams returned to Finch Farm to start their preseason fitness conditioning and training on Friday. Jordan Pickford remains with the England side while Idrissa Gueye, Iliman Ndiaye and Nathan Patterson are taking extended breaks following their World Cup efforts.

Attacking midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was the life of the dressing room last season and looks like that hasn’t changed.

Blues will be encouraged to see defensive lynchpin Jarrad Branthwaite back on his feet and training again, and it appears he has switched to the more conventional squad number 4.

New signing and Everton’s first addition of the summer midfielder Hayden Hackney was also present at the training.

Merlin Rohl saw his loan-to-buy from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg completed last week.

The Toffees also negotiated a lower transfer fee for winger Tyrique George.

Old stalwart James Tarkowski was back in training, and with Seamus Coleman having left the club, the club’s likely next captain.

Harrison Armstrong didn’t see too much gametime in the second half of the season, but will be looking to push his way into the reckoning.

There have been lots of rumours about Thierno Barry, Beto, Dwight McNeil and Adam Aznou departing, but they are all at training for now.

The same goes for Carlo Alcaraz with the Argentine widely expected to depart.

Tim Iroegbunam’s name has also come up linked with a move away.

Everton 2026-27 Summer Key Dates

Sat Jul 18th, 2pm BST – Everton at Dundee FC (Dens Park, Scotland) [Preseason Friendly]

Sat Jul 25th, 3pm BST – Everton at Bolton Wanderers (Toughsheet Community Stadium, England) [Preseason Friendly]

Tue Jul 28th, 7:45pm BST – Everton at Stoke City (bet365 Stadium, England) [Preseason Friendly]

Sat Aug 1st, 4pm BST – Everton at Hamburger SV (Volksparkstadion, Germany) [Preseason Friendly]

Sat Aug 8th, 4pm BST – Everton at VfB Stuttgart (MHP Arena, Germany) [Preseason Friendly]

Wed Aug 12th, 5:15pm BST – Everton vs Newcastle United (Murrayfield, Scotland) [Preseason Friendly]

Sat Aug 15th, 3pm BST – Everton vs LOSC Lille (Hill Dickinson Stadium) [Preseason Friendly]

Sat Aug 22nd, 3pm BST – Everton vs Crystal Palace (Hill Dickinson Stadium) [Premier League]

Sat Aug 29th, 3pm BST – Everton at AFC Bournemouth (Vitality Stadium) [Premier League]

Tue Sep 1st, 11pm BST – Summer Transfer Window closes