LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 02: Kelly Gago of Everton celebrates scoring her team’s fourth goal during the Barclays Women’s Super League match between Everton FC and Leicester City FC at Walton Hall Park on February 02, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
Everton head coach Brian Sorensen confirmed that France international Kelly Gago wants to leave the club and has handed in a transfer request.
In his press conference on Thursday morning, he said that she had a release clause in her contract that would permit her departure.
However, he added that the offers that had currently been made were significantly under the required amount.
“She’s out for the minute, not fit and available to play, but yeah, she wants to go,” he told reporters. “She has a release clause in her contract, so the club that wants her can just pay that and she’s free to go.
“But from my understanding, it’s like 10% of that release clause has been submitted, so I don’t think she’s going anywhere.”
Asked if there was any route back into the Toffees’ first team for her, Sorensen would not be drawn, saying: “I don’t know. At this point, I don’t know. We have to see how everything plays out.”
In an interview with French sports newspaper L’Equipe last week, Gago revealed that she had made an agreement with the club to move to Paris Saint-Germain, and claimed Everton were not being “professional”.
Brian Sorensen: Everton are in a good place
With Karen Holmgaard sustaining an ACL injury that will keep her out for the rest of the season, Sorensen admitted he is very light on squad numbers at the moment, and that he is looking to do a little more business while the transfer window is open.
“We want to add at least two more, so we are working extremely hard for that, but it’s not an easy window. The prices have skyrocketed, and we haven’t budgeted for that, so we need to see if we can be creative. Otherwise, we just have to pull through with the ones that we have.”
Everton go into Friday night’s match against Brighton and Hove Albion after a week off, having beaten West Bromwich Albion in the Women’s FA Cup last Thursday.
And Sorensen reminded listeners that his side had put in a good performance against Manchester City in their last Women’s Super League match.
“We’re super hungry. We’re in a good place. The team spirit is really good. We’re taking a lot of confidence in the last performance against the best team in the league, so we’ll bring that confidence into tomorrow. We’re looking forward to playing under the lights here Friday night.”
