The 27-year-old striker first attracted widespread attention after showing flashes of his ability with Girona during the 2022/23 season. His standout moment came against Real Madrid, when he scored four times to inspire Girona to a stunning 4-2 victory.
His performances caught Lazio’s attention, and the Italian club completed a deal to sign him in 2023. Although Castellanos needed some time to adapt to life in Italy, he eventually began to show his quality, particularly during the 2024/25 campaign, when he recorded 19 goal contributions across all competitions.
After West Ham endured a difficult start to the following season, the London club moved for Castellanos in January as they attempted to fight their way out of relegation trouble. The Argentine scored seven goals across all competitions but was unable to prevent West Ham from losing their Premier League status. Nevertheless, he has started the current campaign positively, already finding the net three times.
According to reports from TEAMtalk, Everton made a late attempt to strengthen their attacking options after allowing Beto to join Fiorentina. The Toffees initially considered Folarin Balogun and Joshua Zirkzee, but with both deals proving difficult to complete, the club turned its attention toward Castellanos.
Everton also explored a move for Tammy Abraham and reportedly reached an agreement in principle with Aston Villa. However, the England international ultimately rejected the opportunity to move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The Toffees then made a formal £45 million offer for Castellanos, with £40 million proposed as an initial guaranteed payment and a further £5 million available through performance-related add-ons.
Castellanos Move Rejected
West Ham were reportedly willing to consider selling the Argentine forward but ultimately turned down Everton’s proposal because there was not enough time remaining in the transfer window to secure an adequate replacement.
Castellanos would have represented an intriguing addition for Everton. At 27, the striker is entering his prime and has already demonstrated that he can make a significant impact when given consistent opportunities.
The failed pursuit has left Everton with limited options up front following Beto’s departure. Thierno Barry is now the club’s only specialist senior striker, although the Frenchman has made an encouraging start to the new campaign after struggling during his first season in the Premier League.
For Everton, the decision not to land Castellanos could prove significant as the season develops, particularly if Barry is unable to maintain his early momentum or the club encounters another injury in the attacking department.
