The 21-year-old PSV winger's penalty against Italy has transformed him from MLS prospect to Premier League target in just six months
Everton are preparing a summer move for PSV Eindhoven winger Esmir Bajraktarevic, the 21-year-old who sent Bosnia and Herzegovina to their first World Cup since 2014 with a decisive penalty against Italy.
The Merseyside club have identified the £4.35 million-rated attacker as a key target ahead of their move to the new Hill Dickinson Stadium, with David Moyes looking to inject pace and youth into his frontline.
Everton's pursuit of Bajraktarevic represents a calculated gamble on beating the post-tournament price surge that typically follows World Cup exposure.
The winger's current Transfermarkt valuation sits at €5 million (£4.35m), but that figure could easily double if he impresses in North America next summer.
With the Hill Dickinson Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock opening for the 2025/26 season, Everton need a squad capable of matching their upgraded surroundings.
The club's new premium facilities demand European football, not relegation battles. Signing players before their values explode at major tournaments has become essential to their recruitment strategy.
Having signed a contract with PSV until 2029, the Dutch giants are under no pressure to sell.
This long-term deal gives PSV significant leverage, but Everton hope to strike before Bosnia's World Cup campaign potentially triples the asking price.
Bajraktarevic's rapid rise reads like a Football Manager save gone right. In January 2025, he was playing for england" class="entity-link entity-link--team">New England Revolution in MLS. Six months later, Everton want him leading their attack.
His PSV statistics offer both promise and concern:
The Eredivisie has produced Premier League stars before, but it has also flattered players who couldn't handle English football's intensity.
Scoring the winning penalty against four-time World Cup winners Italy transformed Bajraktarevic from prospect to headline act.
That single kick in March's play-off shootout secured Bosnia's first World Cup appearance in 12 years and put the winger on every European scout's radar.
For a player with fewer than 10 international caps, the pressure of that moment proved his temperament. Everton clearly value mental strength as much as technical ability.
Bosnia and Herzegovina's qualification for the 2026 World Cup creates both opportunity and urgency for Everton's recruitment team.
With the tournament expanding to 48 teams, more players from smaller nations will get their Hollywood moment. Clubs must now identify these talents before, not after, they shine on the global stage.
Everton's reported interest in Harry Wilson alongside Bajraktarevic reveals their transfer philosophy. Wilson, at 27, offers Premier League experience but limited resale value.
Bajraktarevic provides the opposite: raw potential, age on his side, and the chance to develop into a £50 million asset.
PSV know they're sitting on a potential goldmine. Every strong performance at the World Cup could add millions to Bajraktarevic's valuation.
The Dutch champions have no financial pressure to sell before 2029, giving them complete control over negotiations.
The US-born winger scored the decisive spot-kick in the play-off penalty shootout against Italy during March that helped secure Bosnia's place at the 2026 World Cup.
That American passport adds another dimension. A strong World Cup on home soil could attract MLS franchises with designated player money, further inflating his price.
Everton must decide whether to pay PSV's asking price now or risk losing Bajraktarevic to richer rivals after the World Cup. With Thierno Barry already providing youth in attack, adding another prospect might seem redundant.
But Moyes knows the Hill Dickinson Stadium demands ambition. Signing a future World Cup star before he becomes unaffordable represents exactly the kind of smart recruitment Everton need to compete with clubs who outspend them.
The next six months will determine whether Bajraktarevic becomes Everton's inspired signing or another club's World Cup discovery.
Everton are targeting PSV's Esmir Bajraktarevic who is currently valued at £4.35 million. However, his price could triple after the World Cup if he performs well for Bosnia.
Bajraktarevic scored the decisive penalty against Italy that sent Bosnia to their first World Cup since 2014. This breakthrough moment put him on the radar of major European clubs including Everton.
The 21-year-old winger has scored five goals and provided two assists across all competitions for PSV in 2025/26. He primarily plays on the right flank despite being left-footed.
The Rumour MillPSV Eindhoven's Ismael Saibari has been backed for a move to Tottenham by former Chelsea defender Khalid Boulahrouz after producing 27 goal contributions this season. The 25-year-old Moroccan international's versatility and proven Eredivisie record make him an ideal candidate to solve Spurs' attacking inconsistencies.
MatchdayJosé Mourinho has deployed classic mind games ahead of the Lisbon derby, refusing to comment on referee João Pinheiro's appointment while claiming he only criticises officials after matches. The calculated 'no comment' puts subtle pressure on Pinheiro and could influence both match dynamics and betting markets in tomorrow's crucial fixture.
Everton's new Hill Dickinson Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock is scheduled to open for the 2025/26 season. The club wants to sign quality players like Bajraktarevic to match their upgraded facilities.
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