Yerry Mina tops Everton's list of World Cup summer signings
Yerry Mina remains the most recent example of Everton shopping in a World Cup summer: the Colombia defender joined from Barcelona for just under £30 million in 2018 after three headed goals in Russia, and he is still the last player Everton signed during a tournament year. Scouts are watching the 2026 World Cup for the next wave.
As Colombia's 2026 run ended with penalty heartache against Switzerland, Everton fans are revisiting a club habit that stretches from Alan Ball in 1966 to Mina's big-money move. Everton News counts 14 players bought or loaned in the same summer window they appeared at a World Cup — with Mina and eight others highlighted as the clearest cases where the tournament shaped the move.
Key Takeaways
- Yerry Mina joined Everton for just under £30 million in 2018 and remains the club's last World Cup-summer signing.
- Everton has repeatedly targeted tournament performers, from Alan Ball (1966) to Romelu Lukaku and Muhamed Besic (2014).
- Scouts are monitoring the 2026 World Cup, with the club already linked to several players at the tournament.
- Colombia lost 4-3 to Switzerland on penalties in the 2026 last 16 — the nation whose 2018 World Cup turned Yerry Mina into Everton's last summer tournament signing.
- Switzerland reached their first World Cup quarter-final since 1954 and will face Argentina.
Why did Everton pay Barcelona nearly £30 million for Yerry Mina?
Mina became one of football's most wanted defenders during the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He scored three headed goals for Colombia and impressed with solid displays throughout the tournament.
Everton won the race for the Colombia international, paying Barcelona just under £30 million after the centre-back became hot property on the global stage.
Injuries disrupted his Goodison career, yet supporters warmed to a defender who, as Everton News noted, always played with his heart on his sleeve.
Which eight other players did Everton sign in World Cup summers?
The pattern predates the Premier League era. Alan Ball joined after England's 1966 triumph, with Everton paying Blackpool £112,000. Daniel Amokachi arrived from Club Brugge in 1994 following Nigeria's US campaign.
John Collins cost £2 million in 1998 after Scotland's France trip, later captaining the club. Joseph Yobo was David Moyes's first signing in 2002 after shining for Nigeria in Japan and South Korea.
Tim Howard joined on loan from Manchester United before the 2006 tournament, turning permanent in February 2007 and staying a decade. Jan Mucha's deal was agreed in January 2010, with Everton completing a free transfer from Legia Warsaw that summer while Slovakia competed.
Romelu Lukaku's £28 million move in 2014 capped a saga after a prolific loan spell, while Muhamed Besic followed for about £4 million after Bosnia's World Cup — Roberto Martinez praising his maturity. For broader transfer-market context, see our Fintech & Crypto Alerts hub.
How does Colombia's 2026 exit connect to Mina's 2018 summer?
On July 7, 2026, Switzerland beat Colombia 4-3 on penalties after a 0-0 draw through 120 minutes at BC Place in Vancouver, as The Guardian reported live. Gregor Kobel saved Cucho Hernández's spot-kick before Rubén Vargas converted the winner, sending Switzerland to a quarter-final with Argentina — their first last-eight run since 1954.
It was more shootout heartache for Colombia at the last-16 stage. The 2018 World Cup had turned Mina into Everton's marquee signing weeks later after his three headed goals. The Athletic highlighted how Switzerland's energised pre-shootout huddle helped the squad stay composed in Vancouver.
Will Everton target World Cup stars again this summer?
Everton News reports scouts have been tracking the 2026 tournament closely, with links already emerging to several performers. Mina remains the benchmark: a World Cup breakout that justified a near-£30 million fee, even if fitness issues limited his impact.
Whether the next signing matches that fee or Lukaku's 2014 club record, the lesson is consistent — tournament summers are when Everton has historically acted.