TRANSFER NEWS: Maz Pacheco switches the Midlands for Merseyside

The Toffees’ new signing brings their tally to eight, as they look ahead to their first season with Goodison Park being their home, Brian Sorensen’s side will be looking to have their best season yet to complete the historic occasion.

The defender will wear the number 33 shirt as she prepares to return to the first stadium she ever visited.

Pacheco said: “It was my grassroots club that brought me to Goodison Park and we wore blue wigs. I remember sitting in the top tier. Returning to Goodison now, it is surreal how we have gone full circle and, 10 years later, it will be the Club that I play for.”

Pacheco started her senior career with Merseyside rivals Liverpool in 2015, where she spent two seasons with the club making only 12 appearances. While regular playing time was crucial for her career, Pacheco spent the second half of the 2015/2016 season on loan to Doncaster Rovers Belles and went on to make 12 appearances and scored 1 goal before making the move permanent in 2017, she made 36 appearances overall. After spending one year with Doncaster Rovers Belles and helping them to win the WSL2 title, she then moved to Reading on a permanent contract where she spent the following two seasons, leaving with 25 appearances. For one season only and in the midst of Coronavirus, Pacheco signed for West Ham. Despite the lack of games due to social distancing rules, she still managed to make 17 appearances in Claret and Blue.

Finally, Pacheco signed for Aston Villa in 2021, and at the time of leaving in June 2025 she was the club’s longest serving player. The full-back spent 4 years with Villa, featuring in 73 games and scoring 2 goals.

Sorensen stated that bringing Maz and her qualities to his team gives them ‘another reason to look forward to the historic season ahead.’

He went on to say: “She has a lot of experience in this league and has good relationships with several members of our squad already. Maz has shown her talent throughout her time in the WSL, and I am delighted to have her with us at Everton.”

Maz has also starred on the international stage. She represented England at youth levels from U-17 to U-21, and was included in the squads that reached the 2015 U-17 Euros, 2017 U-19 Euros and 2018 U20 World Cup. In 2024, she switched allegiances to the Philippines and was called up to their training camp in October of that year for fixtures in the Pink Ladies Cup against Jordan and DR Congo.