Will Everton Finally Reach the Champions League in the 2025/26 EPL Season?

The 2025/26 Premier League season presents Everton with both opportunity and uncertainty. After decades of fluctuating fortunes, fans are asking whether this campaign could finally mark their long-awaited breakthrough into the UEFA Champions League. With David Moyes returning to the Goodison dugout, a new stadium opening, and a squad refreshed through the summer transfer market, optimism exists. Yet the challenges remain formidable, and the early signs suggest this will be an uphill battle.

Current Performance: A Rocky Start

Everton’s opening to the season has been far from convincing. The Toffees began with a disappointing loss away at Leeds, compounding a poor run of form that stretches back into last season. Under Sean Dyche, the club won just one of their final eleven league matches, leaving them teetering above the relegation zone in 16th place as the new year arrived. That fragility remains evident in their current league standing. For a side with Champions League ambitions, the gulf between aspiration and reality could hardly be starker.

Analysts highlight that slow starts have often doomed mid-table hopefuls in past campaigns. Clubs chasing European qualification must maintain consistency from August to May. Dropping points early forces a near-perfect run-in, a burden Everton’s current squad may struggle to bear.

Moyes Returns: A Familiar Face with a Heavy Task

The January 2025 reappointment of David Moyes marked a significant turning point. Moyes’ previous tenure from 2002 to 2013 was the most stable and competitive era in Everton’s recent history. His ability to maximize resources, build disciplined squads, and challenge England’s elite on limited budgets earned him both respect and nostalgia among supporters. Now, with Everton transitioning to their new Hill Dickinson Stadium, the Scot has been tasked with orchestrating another revival.

Pundits largely welcomed the move, noting that Moyes’ organizational style suits a team in flux. However, modern Premier League dynamics differ vastly from a decade ago. Competing with state-backed clubs and global financial giants demands not only tactical acumen but also depth of resources that Everton have historically lacked. The manager’s experience is invaluable, but he will need more than grit and discipline to bridge the gap to England’s top four.

Transfers and Squad Reinforcement

If Everton are to mount a serious Champions League challenge, the summer 2025 transfer window may prove pivotal. The club invested in both youth and experience, seeking to reshape the spine of the squad. Key arrivals included Carlos Alcaraz, Thierno Barry, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and the headline-grabbing loan of Jack Grealish from Manchester City. Goalkeeper Mark Travers and left-back Adam Aznou added further competition in critical positions.

Meanwhile, stalwarts Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Abdoulaye Doucouré departed, part of a broader restructuring to refresh the squad dynamic. The blend of Premier League-proven players like Dewsbury-Hall with high-potential prospects demonstrates Everton’s intent to plan for both immediate improvement and long-term growth. Yet success will depend on whether these recruits can adapt quickly, form cohesion, and deliver consistently in high-pressure fixtures.

The New Stadium: Symbol of Ambition

The opening of the Hill Dickinson Stadium in summer 2025 represents more than bricks and mortar. It is a statement of intent. With increased capacity, improved facilities, and modern infrastructure, the stadium signals Everton’s ambition to rejoin the elite tier of English football. Club officials hope the venue will not only boost matchday revenues but also attract higher-caliber players in future transfer windows.

For the fanbase, the new ground embodies renewal. After years of survival battles and off-field uncertainty, the move offers a chance to reset the club’s trajectory. Champions League football in their inaugural stadium season would be a dream start, but even securing stability and mid-table security would represent progress from recent struggles.

Competitive Outlook and Reality Check

Even with these positive developments, the path to the Champions League is steep. Manchester City and Arsenal remain entrenched at the summit, while Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle, and Tottenham all boast stronger squads on paper. Everton must outperform at least two of these established heavyweights to claim a top-four place.

Fixture difficulty compounds the challenge. Early clashes with Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal leave little margin for error. Dropped points in these encounters could extend their shaky start, creating a psychological hurdle as well as a mathematical one. As one analyst noted, “If Everton want to dream of the Champions League, they must first prove they belong in the top half of the table.”

Verdict: Hope, but Realism Required

So, will Everton finally reach the Champions League in the 2025/26 season? The short answer is that it remains highly unlikely. While Moyes’ return has galvanized supporters and the transfer business shows intent, the combination of a poor starting position, fierce competition, and ongoing squad integration issues places the Toffees at a disadvantage.

That said, football’s unpredictability leaves room for optimism. Should Grealish rediscover form, Dewsbury-Hall bring midfield balance, and Moyes’ tactical discipline stabilize results, Everton could emerge as surprise contenders for European qualification. A top-seven finish, yielding Europa or Conference League football, may be a more realistic target — and a vital stepping stone toward their Champions League dream.

For now, Everton’s journey to Europe is a story in progress, one closely followed by fans and pundits alike. As sports betting news outlets continue to assess the odds, the Toffees remain a club at the intersection of ambition and uncertainty, striving to turn potential into achievement.