While Everton's summer transfer window closed in chaos — with £100 million worth of attacking talent departing on deadline day and no replacements arriving — a quiet piece of business may yet prove to be the club's shrewdest move of recent years.

The Toffees have made an unbeaten start to the new Premier League season, collecting five points from their opening three matches. That run includes a dramatic 96th-minute equaliser from Ainsley Maitland-Niles against Manchester United last weekend, which spared the club from what many supporters feared would be a hostile reception at the final whistle.

George hits the ground running

At the centre of Everton's early-season promise is Tyrique George, the 20-year-old winger signed from Chelsea. George has wasted no time making an impression, scoring his first Premier League goal for the club in that same contest against Manchester United — a composed finish that levelled the scoreline late in the game.

According to data from Gradient Sports, George is the Premier League's best ball-carrier through the first three weeks of the season. He has completed seven of his nine attempted dribbles, beating opponents with a regularity that has drawn comparisons to a teammate's earlier breakthrough at Aston Villa: Jack Grealish.

Like Grealish, George possesses the ability to carry the ball upfield over significant distances, relieving pressure on his side and creating danger in the final third. For a team expected to spend much of the campaign in the bottom half of the table, that capacity to shift play quickly and effectively is an invaluable asset.

Opportunity born from necessity

Everton's threadbare squad — just 18 senior players under manager David Moyes — means George will face no shortage of opportunities this season. The club's sole recognised striker, Thierno Barry, is a forward who thrives on service from wide areas, making the contributions of George on the left and Brennan Johnson on the right all the more critical.

Chances for regular football at Chelsea were always going to be limited. The Blues are targeting a Premier League title challenge this season, and their £116 million acquisition of Morgan Rogers signals where their priorities lie. That reality, however uncomfortable for George at the time, has opened the door to a starting role at Everton — and he appears ready to walk through it.

If George can sustain his early form and continue adding end product alongside his carrying ability, the combination of exposure, a prominent role under Moyes, and the influence of working alongside Grealish could make him one of the most talked-about young players in England by the end of the season — a genuine contender for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.