Everton have received a significant late boost in their attempt to sign Brooke Norton-Cuffy from Genoa , according to a report by Kaustubh Pandey for Sport Witness , drawing on quotes translated from Italian outlets Genova24 and Secolo XIX. Genoa head coach Daniele De Rossi publicly confirmed that a late-window sale is a genuine possibility, and that discussions could move fast after their Serie A fixture against Napoli . That's a fairly open door from a manager whose club have, crucially, already identified a replacement in Como 's Ignace Van Der Brempt.
Giving Everton transfer hope, he said – via Genova24: "As long as he's here, he'll play. He's training well. I think he's better than last year. I know the transfer market issues well. At most, I'll talk about it after the match."
The financials make this one genuinely attractive for Everton . Genoa originally signed Norton-Cuffy for just €2m, so even at the €20m asking price, they would be pocketing a healthy profit and negotiating from a relaxed position. For Everton, the reported £17m fee is modest by current market standards for an English full-back with real Premier League-ready qualities.
Norton-Cuffy, 22, is an England under-21 international who spent time with Arsenal 's academy before building genuine senior experience across multiple loan spells in English football. That background means there is no adaptation period to account for, no bedding-in process, no language barrier. He has recorded 44 appearances across two Serie A seasons with Genoa, including 27 this campaign with two goals, one assist and 25 starts.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 27: Brooke Norton-Cuffy of Coventry City warms up prior to the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final between Coventry City and Luton Town at Wembley Stadium on May 27, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
David Moyes doesn't just want Norton-Cuffy. He needs him, and the distinction matters here.
Everton's right-back position has become something close to a disaster. The club have been patching the flank with central midfielders and centre-backs like Merlin Rohl deployed out of position, which tells its own story about how stretched the squad actually is. Moyes' system demands physically intense, high-energy full-backs who can pin down an entire flank through ninety minutes. Norton-Cuffy's recovery speed, directness in transition and sheer athletic verticality make him a perfect option for that system.
Yes, his Sofascore average sits at 6.8, but that metric reflects Genoa's season rather than Norton-Cuffy's ceiling. Carrying the defensive burden in a lower-table Italian side is a different job entirely, and the rigour of Italian defensive coaching doesn't get mentioned enough when assessing young English players abroad.
£17m in this market is not a gamble; it's sensible business. Pursuing alternatives like Guela Doue at potentially £40m-plus would be fiscally reckless for a club building carefully toward life in their new stadium. Everton need this signed before the window closes, because leaving that right-back slot unresolved going into 2026/27 leaves Moyes' backline structurally compromised from the very first match.
