Everton Faces Tough Test Against Stuttgart in German Tour

Everton step up their German tour this weekend with a far stiffer examination: a trip to Champions League-bound Vfb Stuttgart at the MHPArena.

Hamburg was a useful workout. Stuttgart is a measuring stick.

David Moyes watched his side edge a 2-1 win over Hamburg in their first game on German soil, settled in the most pre-season way imaginable – a stoppage-time own goal from Jordan Torunarigha. Before that late twist, Merlin Röhl had marked his return to his homeland with the opener, a neat reminder of why Everton moved for his energy and intelligence in midfield.

That victory capped a busy opening stretch to the summer. This will be Everton’s fifth outing, and the opponents now jump a level. Sebastian Hoeneß has turned Stuttgart into one of the Bundesliga’s sharpest outfits, finishing fourth last season and punching a ticket to the Champions League, while also marching to a second successive DFB-Pokal final. This is not a gentle jog through July legs; it’s the sort of test that exposes any slackness before the Premier League kicks in.

Norgaard waits, World Cup trio filter back

One new face will have to wait. Christian Norgaard, signed from Arsenal this week for £7m, will not feature in Stuttgart. The Dane is due to link up with his new teammates once they return to England and will build his fitness at Finch Farm rather than be rushed into action on tour. The plan is simple: get him ready for a possible debut against Newcastle United at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh next Wednesday.

While Norgaard sits this one out, two World Cup returnees are ready to rejoin the rhythm. Iliman Ndiaye and Nathan Patterson are back with the group after extended breaks following their 2026 World Cup campaigns and are targeting their first pre-season minutes against Stuttgart. Both bring intensity and directness, and both will want to make up for lost time.

Jordan Pickford, who went deep into the tournament with England and reached the semi-finals, will not be involved. He is due to rejoin the squad once they are back from Germany. James Garner remains sidelined with a groin problem, a minor but nagging issue that keeps Moyes from rotating as freely as he might like in midfield.

Shape, selection and a step up in class

Moyes is expected to stay with the familiar 4-2-3-1 structure that has underpinned much of Everton’s summer work. The predicted XI underlines that this is no throwaway run-out:

Travers; O'Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Röhl, Ireogbunam, Dewsbury-Hall; Dibling, Barry, Ndiaye.

It’s a side that blends established Premier League experience with younger legs eager to impress. James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite anchor a back line that will be asked to cope with the movement and tempo of a top Bundesliga attack. Vitalii Mykolenko offers balance on the left, while O’Brien on the opposite flank will be tested by Stuttgart’s width and overlapping full-backs.

In midfield, Röhl’s return to Germany adds a personal edge. Alongside Tim Ireogbunam and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, he forms a trio designed to press, recycle the ball quickly and push Everton higher up the pitch. Ahead of them, Dibling and Barry will look to feed off Ndiaye’s movement, with the Senegal international capable of stretching Stuttgart’s back line and opening lanes for runners from deep.

This is where pre-season stops being gentle conditioning and starts to resemble real competition. Stuttgart, on their own ground, with Champions League standards to maintain, will not treat this lightly. Everton, still bedding in new ideas and new faces, must show they can live with that level.

Match details

Kick-off: 4:00 pm BST, Saturday 8th August
Venue: MHPArena, Stuttgart, Germany

Everton supporters can watch the game live via evertontv, with one-off match passes available, while the ToffeeWeb Live Forum will carry updates for those following from afar.

The German tour ends here. The Premier League looms. Against opponents of Stuttgart’s calibre, Everton will discover whether this pre-season has simply warmed the legs or truly sharpened the edge.