Ainsley Maitland-Niles made an immediate impact for Everton, scoring a spectacular goal on his debut to secure a 2-2 draw against Manchester United at Hill Dickinson Stadium. The 29-year-old, a deadline-day signing from Lyon, was on the pitch for less than 20 minutes before finding the net.
Maitland-Niles' strike marked his first appearance in English football since 2023 and made him the first Everton player in eight years to score on debut. Manager David Moyes commented, "It was a brilliant goal and a great finish. It's a good start for him and it will help him settle in as well."
The draw came after a challenging period for Everton, which saw the sale of Iliman N'Diaye to Manchester City for up to £65m, along with the departures of striker Beto and right-back Nathan Patterson. Moyes is left with 18 senior outfield players until at least January after a deal for Monaco striker Folarin Balogun collapsed.
Tyrique George, who made his move to Everton permanent in July, also scored his first Premier League goal in the match. His thunderous strike past Senne Lammens capped a fine performance, contributing to Everton's unbeaten start to the campaign.