Neal Maupay shared that a meme he posted on Twitter during deadline day was a reflection of his relief at securing a transfer away from Everton, two years after joining the club under Frank Lampard. Signed from Brighton & Hove Albion by Everton’s director of football, Kevin Thelwell, Maupay was brought in to provide cover for the injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin during the summer of 2022.
While he was not viewed as the ideal replacement for Calvert-Lewin, there was hope that he could play alongside the striker once both were fit. Unfortunately, Maupay’s time at Everton was largely underwhelming, as he managed just one goal before going on loan to his former club, Brentford, last season.
Though Brentford chose not to make the move permanent, Thelwell successfully arranged a €500,000 loan to Marseille in the recent transfer window. The French club also committed to an obligation to buy him for €5 million the following year.
This move provided the exit Maupay had been seeking, with Everton fans largely unbothered by his departure, especially after a series of social media posts that had frustrated some supporters. His final tweet, a response to Fabrizio Romano’s announcement of his move to Marseille, included a scene from Shawshank Redemption, symbolizing his relief.
Maupay explained the post, saying, “Fans like to comment, criticize, and celebrate, and that’s fine with me because I’m a regular person. If others can tweet, so can I. The video was just a way to express my relief at leaving Everton. It was well-known that I wanted to go, and the club didn’t want me to stay.”
If Maupay performs well in Ligue 1, the transfer fee could rise to €10 million. Regardless, Everton are likely satisfied to have offloaded a player who no longer fit their plans, with a financial boost expected at the end of the season.
