Magaye Gueye’s career at Everton ultimately failed to live up to early expectations, with his standout moments overshadowed by inconsistency and limited opportunities. After leaving Goodison Park, he found more success abroad, particularly in Turkey and with Qarabag in Azerbaijan, where he played in the Champions League.
Signed in summer 2010 from Strasbourg for a fee reported to be worth up to £1million, Evertonians held high hopes for the French forward. Having represented France at every youth level and at under-21 level too, Gueye’s potential was beyond question.
Limited to cameos in his debut season at Goodison, he subsequently played through Everton’s run to the 2012 FA Cup semi final and was outstanding in the quarter final replay against Sunderland. His first goal for Everton came in a league match against the same opponents ten days later.
‘His energy, his effort and his link-up play were first class,’ said the Everton assistant manager, Steve Round, after that game ‘I'm really pleased for the lad. He's a nice lad, he's a good character, he trains well and he's certainly got ability.'
Five days later Gueye started at Wembley against Liverpool. Alas, that occasion proved too much for him, and he was disappointing as Everton fell to a late defeat having led earlier in the game.
The Wembley encounter was Gueye’s last start for Everton and thereafter he struggled to make an impression at Goodison. Following a loan spell with Brest in 2013, he joined Millwall following the expiry of hi Everton contract.
After a season in the Championship, he had a successful spell in Turkey and in his late-twenties moved to Azerbaijain’s must successful club, Qarabag, for whom he appeared in the Champions League.