Despite an encouraging pre-season, Adam Aznou was not included by David Moyes for the opening day of the Premier League against Crystal Palace, which Everton won 2-0 this Saturday. The Moroccan international was neither in the starting eleven nor among the nine substitutes, while Vitaliy Mykolenko was named as the left-back.
At this stage, no medical reason has been provided to explain his absence. Before the match, Moyes announced the unavailability of Christian Nørgaard and Tim Iroegbunam, as well as uncertainty surrounding James Garner, who ultimately was present on the bench. However, the Scottish manager did not mention Aznou among the unavailable players. In the absence of any injury reported by Everton, his exclusion appears to be a sporting decision.
This decision raises eyebrows following the good performances displayed by the Moroccan during the summer preparation. Everton seemed willing to keep him in their squad this season, without immediately considering a loan. For the start of the league, however, Moyes preferred to include Nathan Patterson, Michael Keane, and Jake O’Brien among his defensive options on the bench.
Arriving from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2025, Adam Aznou has only played one official match with Everton’s first team last season, in the FA Cup against Sunderland, without making his Premier League debut. This latest absence inevitably reignites questions about the role afforded to the Atlas Lion and his future as the transfer window approaches its closure.
