Everton: Martinez squandered £13.5 million on a loser who is now unemployed following the release of L1.
The international striker joined for £13.5 million and left on a free transfer.
Everton fans have had a terrible couple of years, having witnessed their team reach the top of the league in 2020 with Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, only to now battle relegation year after year.
The Toffees haven’t finished in the top half of the Premier League since the 2018/19 season under Marco Silva, and they’ve finished 16th, 17th, and 18th in the last three years.
Everton came dangerously close to relegation last season, only escaping with a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth on the last day.
One of the causes for Everton’s decline has been poor recruitment under owner Farhad Moshiri; nevertheless, a new era appears to be on the horizon, with 777 Partners finalizing an agreement to buy the British-Iranian’s whole 94.1% share in the Toffees.
Moshiri has spent £530 million on 31 players since becoming a 49.9% shareholder in 2016, and £130 million in players have been sold for free by 2022.
Oumar Niasse was one of these enormous flops, leaving Everton for free in July 2020 after signing in 2016.
Everton paid how much for Oumar Niasse?
Prior to the striker’s arrival in January 2016, Everton and manager Roberto Martinez had had a rough start to the Premier League season, winning only six of 23 games.
Everton spent £19 million in the January transfer window following their terrible start, with £13.5 million going to the Senegalese forward, marking him Everton’s third-most expensive signing at the time, behind Romelu Lukaku and Marouane Fellaini.
The 33-year-old was overjoyed to sign for the Toffees after joining the Merseyside club.
He stated:
“It’s a fantastic day for me; it’s a big dream of mine to play in the Premier League and an even bigger dream to play for Everton.”
“Everton is one of the best Premier League teams, and the Premier League is one of the best leagues in the world.”
“I know Everton is one of England’s big clubs, with history, fans, and great players, so I’m very excited and happy to be here.”
“I began watching Everton more closely in early October after hearing about their interest.” I was curious to see how they played and if they had any young guys.
Everton purchased Oumar Niasse for what reason?
Niasse played for Lokomotiv Moscow in Russia before joining Everton, where he made 40 appearances, scoring 19 goals and contributing 14 assists, averaging a goal contribution every 0.82 games.
The Senegal international also impressed in the Europa League, scoring four goals and providing three assists in only six games, earning him the best average rating on Sofascore of 7.22.
His attacking talent was also supported by his numbers, as he had the most shots (3.5), successful dribbles (1.5), vital passes (1.3), and shots on target (1.3) per game in Europe for the Russian team.
What became of Oumar Niasse when he joined Everton?
Niasse had a difficult time with Everton throughout his four years there, as his most successful games in the iconic blue shirt came when he played for the U23s, where he played 10 games and scored 12 goals.
However, in his 42 games for the first squad, he only managed nine goals and four assists in all competitions, indicating that he scored more for the youth levels.
Furthermore, Niasse earned the 26th-worst Sofascore rating in the Everton squad during his first season, at 6.54.
After Martinez was fired by Dutch manager Ronald Koeman, the striker said that he was isolated from the squad and his locker was removed.
In an interview with the Guardian, he stated:
“It’s sad, really sad.”
“And, to be honest, I don’t think I deserve this, but all I can do is keep my head up and fight to change things.” I’m not going to make a big deal out of it. I just put up with it.
“I understand it’s only one period.
“Koeman told me, ‘You have to leave.’
“I couldn’t believe that decision was made after 45 minutes, but I just said, ‘OK.'”
“I’m in the under-23s’ dressing room, but I don’t have a locker.”
“The other players have places where they keep their belongings, but I don’t.”
“I come with my bag and only know one place.” I put my suitcase down, train, and then load everything into my car and drive home.
“He took my shirt number and told me I wasn’t allowed in the first team dressing room; that I wasn’t going to train with them.” I had no choice but to join the second team.”
Although his career in England improved slightly after Koeman’s departure, the striker’s Sofascore rating increased to 6.85, the 12th-best in the squad, under new boss Sam Allardyce.
As a result, the English manager stated in 2018 that Niasse’s position had never been stronger.
He stated:
“I believe Oumar’s position at Everton has never been as good as it is now.”
“He’s set himself up to shine and score goals.” He has goals and assists to his name, and he regularly starts games.
“Oumar’s grasped that position at the moment, making assists, scoring goals, and holding it up well, so it’s made it difficult for me to replace him.”
However, the eight goals he would score for Allardyce that season would be his last for the club, as he would be dismissed at the end of the 2019/20 season, and his career has gone downhill since then.
After a poor move to Huddersfield, where he did not play, Niasse joined League One club Burton Albion in February 2022, where he made only 12 appearances and scored three goals before being released just five months later.
It would take the nine-cap international eight months to find a new club, this time with fellow League One side Morecambe, where he made just 10 appearances and scored one goal before being released in July of this year.
