Everton submit formal £17m offer to sign Raoul Bellanova
Everton lodge £17m-plus bid to sign Raoul Bellanova as Toffees battle Real Sociedad for Atalanta fullback.
Everton have submitted a formal £17 million offer, plus add-ons, to sign Raoul Bellanova from Atalanta, sources familiar with the negotiations say. Raoul Bellanova, a 26-year-old Italy international, is the subject of interest from multiple clubs this summer as Atalanta prepare for business in the transfer window. The bid represents a concrete opening move by Everton as manager David Moyes looks to bolster his full-back options ahead of the new Premier League campaign. Competition from Real Sociedad is reported, and Atalanta have already identified potential replacements as they weight a possible sale.
Everton lodge formal £17m offer for Raoul Bellanova
Everton have made a formal approach to Atalanta, offering £17 million with additional performance-related add-ons. The proposal underlines how urgently the club view reinforcements at right-back after a season of instability in that position.
Club sources indicate the offer is intended to accelerate talks before other suitors, with Everton confident they can reach an agreement that satisfies Atalanta’s valuation. The move signals a clear transfer priority for Everton as they seek to add an attack-minded full-back to David Moyes’ squad.
Bellanova’s recent form and career trajectory
Raoul Bellanova rejoined Atalanta in the summer of 2024 and quickly established himself as one of Italy’s most productive wing-backs. In his first full Serie A season with the club he registered double-digit assists, showcasing his crossing and chance-creation from the right flank.
Prior to his breakout at Torino, Bellanova’s career path included spells with AC Milan, Inter, Cagliari and Pescara, with his time at Torino drawing the most attention before Atalanta’s move. He has earned six caps for the Italy senior team, marking him as a player with international recognition and top-flight experience.
Injury history and availability concerns
Bellanova’s second season at Atalanta was affected by recurring injuries, though none were described by club sources as long-term or career-threatening. Despite setbacks in the latter half of the campaign, he managed 36 appearances across all competitions, demonstrating the ability to contribute when fit.
Medical due diligence will be a priority for any buying club, particularly given Everton’s season-long need for consistent minutes from their wing-backs. Clubs monitoring the transfer have made clear that Bellanova’s physical profile will be assessed thoroughly before a deal is completed.
Tactical fit: why Everton want an attack-minded full-back
Everton’s recruitment appears focused on adding creativity and width from the full-back areas, and Bellanova’s attacking output is a major draw. Last season he averaged a notably higher number of key passes from the right flank than Everton’s current senior options, highlighting his capacity to influence the final third.
Adding Bellanova would also give David Moyes tactical flexibility, allowing Jake O’Brien to revert to a central role where he has been used previously. The potential signing is therefore as much about improving the right flank as it is about rebalancing Everton’s defensive structure.
Transfer rivals and market dynamics
Real Sociedad are reported to be among the interested parties for Bellanova, creating a two-club race for the Atalanta full-back. That competition is likely to force a quicker decision from Atalanta and potentially raise the final transfer price if an auction develops.
Atalanta are understood to have already pinpointed possible replacements should Bellanova depart, with Nottingham Forest’s Nicolò Savona one name circulating as a target. Those identified options will shape Atalanta’s negotiating position and their willingness to push for a higher fee.
Financial and squad implications for Everton
Everton’s reported £17m bid, structured with add-ons, reflects typical Premier League club practice of balancing immediate outlay with performance-related payments. How the fee is financed and whether player sales are required will be part of summer discussions at Goodison Park.
If the transfer proceeds, the move would represent a targeted investment in a player profile Everton believe can make an immediate impact. The club’s recruitment department will weigh Bellanova’s technical attributes against long-term wage and resale considerations as negotiations progress.
Atalanta’s stance and replacement planning
Atalanta have a track record of careful squad management and player trading, and their response to Everton’s offer will reflect both sporting and financial calculations. While Bellanova’s exit would leave a gap on the right, the club’s scouting network has already identified candidates to step in.
Atalanta are expected to demand terms that reflect Bellanova’s importance and upside, particularly given his effective contribution during his spell in Bergamo. Negotiations are likely to include sell-on clauses and performance add-ons as Atalanta attempt to protect their interests.
David Moyes has publicly spoken in the past about the need for Premier League-ready signings, and the Everton hierarchy will be conscious of delivering reinforcements that fit the manager’s style. Bellanova’s blend of attacking threat and defensive solidity is the rationale behind Everton’s interest and the reason the club has moved to formalise an offer.
Should Everton secure Bellanova, it would alter the balance of their backline options and provide a player capable of creating chances from deep. The club’s tactical adjustments would be tailored to maximise his crossing and forward runs while shoring up central areas when necessary.
Negotiations now hinge on agreement between the two clubs and on Bellanova’s personal terms, with Atalanta’s list of prospective replacements serving as leverage in talks. The transfer window’s tempo often accelerates when formal offers are lodged, suggesting a swift sequence of meetings and medical assessments could follow.
Everton’s right-back situation has been uncertain since the departure of long-serving figures, and the arrival of an experienced international would be interpreted as a move to stabilise that area. For Bellanova, the Premier League would present a new challenge and the chance to test his qualities in one of Europe’s most demanding leagues.
Raoul Bellanova’s potential transfer to Everton is a development that could reshape both clubs’ summer plans, depending on how talks conclude and whether competing offers escalate the price. The coming weeks are likely to decide whether Everton’s formal offer is enough to secure the Atalanta full-back, or if rivals will force a different outcome.
