Everton have completed the permanent signing of German midfielder Merlin Röhl for a reported €25 million, turning a loan into a full‑time deal and triggering a €6.7 million payout to his former club FC Ingolstadt. The transfer, announced this summer, adds a fresh chapter to a series of high‑value moves orchestrated by former managing director Dietmar Beiersdorfer.
Beiersdorfer, once a board member at HSV Hamburg and sports director at Ingolstadt from 2021‑2026, originally sold Röhl to SC Freiburg for €3 million and secured a future‑sale clause. When Everton exercised the option to make the loan permanent, Ingolstadt collected the agreed‑upon share. The €25 million fee shows Everton’s willingness to invest despite a challenging 2025‑26 season, where they finished 13th with 49 points and a recent form of LLDDL.
The Toffees entered the 2026‑27 campaign after a disappointing season that saw them concede 50 goals while scoring 47, leaving them 36 points behind league leaders Arsenal. Adding Röhl, a versatile midfielder, aims to bolster a squad that lost its last four matches, including a 1‑0 defeat to Tottenham on 24 May 2026. Manager David Moyes will expect the new signing to adapt quickly, especially as Everton prepare for a friendly against HSV Hamburg in Hamburg on Saturday.
Nicknamed “Dukaten‑Didi” for his knack for lucrative deals, Beiersdorfer previously negotiated transfers such as Rafael van der Vaart to Real Madrid for €15 million and Nigel de Jong to Manchester City for €18 million. Röhl’s move adds another headline to his résumé. Ingolstadt’s €6.7 million windfall illustrates the financial upside of well‑crafted resale agreements.
Everton travel to Hamburg on Saturday, with Röhl now a permanent squad member. He will aim to prove his worth in training and the upcoming friendly, hoping to earn a regular spot in Moyes’ line‑up. The club’s next Premier League fixture is at home against Ipswich on 19 September 2026, a match that could signal whether the €25 million investment begins to pay off on the pitch.
