The Alcaraz Effect

June 30, 2025, 6:52 p.m.

After a period of uncertainty, Carlos Alcaraz was officially snapped up by Everton, who triggered the £12.6m option in his loan deal with Flamengo to make him the club’s first signing of the summer and the first under new owners, The Friedkin Group.

 

While manager David Moyes took some time to be convinced, and Alcaraz’s minutes were limited at the start of his January loan, a strong close to the campaign by the Argentine proved crucial towards him being acquired permanently.

 

Contributing two goals and three assists across 16 appearances (7 starts), his productive spell with the Toffees was full of positives, as the 22-year-old offered many glimpses of his undeniable class.

 

"It was a no-brainer, at the end of the season it was the deal we all wanted to be done straight away so I'm really happy about it. He just has something different about him - he gets his head up and runs with the ball and is always looking for options around him. We don't have a lot of players who are comfortable on the ball but he is definitely in that category," Paul Brown from the Paddock Blues podcast said to BBC Radio Merseyside.

 

Once adjusted to life at Everton, one of Alcaraz’s standout qualities, his off-ball intelligence, rose to the fore swiftly.

 

Calculated and smart, the way he timed and directed his movement with precision was a highlight, for he expertly exploited space vacated by teammates and gaps in opposition structures. Be it down the channels, in behind or between the lines, the former Juventus and Southampton man illustrated his worth here.

Indeed, his 64th minute winner against Newcastle United underlined this brilliantly, where he exhibited his striking instincts to read the flight of the ball perfectly to make a decisive run and finish.

Equally comfortable dropping deeper to link play or rotating across the frontline, where he’s adept at operating as a makeshift striker when required, Alcaraz’s tactical flexibility amplified what a weapon he was for Moyes both when starting or coming off the bench.

What also sets him apart is how he can adapt his role depending on what’s happening around him. Whether supporting Beto by feeding off flick-ons and knock-downs or offering a bounce pass option in tight proximity, Alcaraz’s positional smarts enhances the danger of Everton’s attack to help them progress up the pitch. Seeing as Everton can be quite direct, this increases their nuisance and success in vital second-ball instances.

On the ball, Alcaraz displays immense calmness and composure to influence proceedings in transition and controlled build-up. Handling being pressured admirably and making sharp decisions, this ensures he maintains possession and can drive the team forward.

 

Moreover, his low centre of gravity and stocky frame allow him to hold off opponents while remaining balanced to withstand challenges.

 

His first touch is often used to escape pressure, as he reads situations coherently in order to know when to shield, turn or release the ball to give himself the best chance of achieving satisfactory outcomes.

 

His acceleration and agility are also valuable, enabling him to alter pace and direction rapidly to get separation from markers.

 

Also flexing his muscles with his passing, his crafty combinations, including one-twos, flicks, layoffs and backheels, are typically executed crisply to breathe life into attacks.

When in and around the box, his ball-striking prowess becomes a threat as well, for he’s capable of delivering wicked crosses and cutbacks and firing off quality shots from a range of zones.

 

He’s also useful on set pieces, with a technique that can produce swerve, whip, dip and power from a wide array of dead-ball scenarios.

 

Demonstrating promising end product and a player who can change a game in an instant with a moment of magic, his ability to shape games in the final third elevates his menace massively.

 

Roughly six months on from arriving in Merseyside, Alcaraz appears fully embedded within the squad and tactical setup. With him now fully grasping Everton’s framework and in tune with his teammates’ tendencies, it's been admirable how well he's settled back into the tempo of Premier League football. This should consequently hold him in good stead to hit the ground running in the 2025/2026 crusade with his integration period already out of the way.

 

"It's been a great start, but that start is also based on the confidence my teammates give me on a daily basis, in training, with the warmth I have received from them, so really it's been very nice,” he told the Everton website.

 

"With that affection, with that confidence that my teammates give me, I will continue to try to show my game and hopefully things will continue to go well for me, but, more importantly I hope things go well for the club."

 

He then added this on the impact of Moyes, stating: "Moyes is a great person, he's a great manager. He gives me and my teammates a lot of confidence, but maybe more so for me as the last player to arrive in a team that is already set up," Alcaraz said.

 

With The Friedkin Group ushering in a new era at Everton, the tremendously talented Alcaraz, who’s entering his prime, is ready to contribute heavily and be a real asset in shaping their identity for many years to come.

 

As Everton looks to the future, his development will be one to watch closely.

 

By Edward Stratmann.

X: @EdwardStratmann