Everton's £40m star Dibling barely plays in first season

Everton signed Tyler Dibling for £40m but the young talent has featured just six times in his debut campaign.

High expectations around Dibling When Southampton attached a £100m price tag to Tyler Dibling amid speculation about his future, the young midfielder revealed teammates jokingly referenced the figure constantly. This highlighted the immense faith Southampton had in Dibling, a player widely regarded as exceptionally gifted even as relegation loomed over the club last season. Dibling eventually left Southampton after interest from Tottenham Hotspur and RB Leipzig, joining Everton in a £40m deal that made him one of the most expensive signings in the club's history. ## Promised talent meets reality at Everton Once at Everton, Dibling was hailed as a generational talent expected to anchor the club's revival at Hill Dickinson Stadium under manager David Moyes during his second spell. Former Southampton boss Russell Martin echoed the high praise, stating: 'When I was there I had to play it down a lot and not make things more difficult for him, but he is the most talented player I've ever worked with.' However, the 20-year-old has spent much of his first season sidelined, making only four Premier League starts and six appearances in total, totalling 513 minutes on the pitch. ## Competition blocks Dibling's pathway Dibling's limited playing time coincided with key events at Everton. Jack Grealish suffered a season-ending foot injury, while Dwight McNeil—whose transfer to Crystal Palace nearly happened before collapsing at the last moment—has been preferred to him. The crowded wide areas have left Dibling struggling to secure consistent minutes, raising questions about his integration and development under Moyes. ## England's young star still in the frame Despite his struggles domestically, Dibling's reputation remains strong internationally. Sources indicate he is highly valued by England Under-21 coach Lee Carsley, who has given him regular game time as the team aims to defend the European Championship title won in 2023. Carsley views Dibling as indispensable, praising both his skill and professional attitude within the setup. In the 2025-26 season, Dibling has started three Under-21 matches and featured in six, logging 261 minutes on the field. ## Moyes sets clear expectations for Dibling David Moyes has urged Dibling to raise his standards, emphasizing the need for improvement in training and work ethic. He acknowledged bringing in Tyrique George on loan from Chelsea as competition, noting George's impressive performances in limited minutes. Moyes stressed Dibling's importance to the project, saying: 'He'll have to do better. He'll have to do better in his work and in his training. We brought in Tyrique George on loan from Chelsea, who is of a similar age and as competition as well to make sure we were covered. I think Tyrique has done well in the moments he's had in games and shown some bits that we like, so we want Tyler to step up, we really do. He's important to us. He's a player who we put a lot of faith and money into to bring him here so we are looking for a lot more.' ## A season of growth and challenges Leon Osman, a former Everton midfielder who played under Moyes, sympathized with Dibling's situation, calling this year an 'education' and predicting a stronger return next pre-season. He highlighted the challenges of adjusting to life far from home, the pressure of a record fee, and the demands of Moyes' system. Osman noted: 'Now he's had a whole year to understand what's expected of him, but also let's not forget that within all this, Tyler is a young lad who is known to be quite a homely person. He has moved the length of the country to live in a completely different environment, where he doesn't know anybody, so that in itself is a big step for any young man.' ## Moyes' methodical approach with young talent Osman emphasized Moyes' preference for patient development over instant impact, comparing Dibling's journey to his own early struggles under the manager. He explained that Moyes understands individual needs and tailors development accordingly. Osman stated: 'David is well aware that there is no 'one size fits all' way of going about it. He knows talent. He understands characters. I think his character knowledge has certainly risen since his time away from Everton because he's kept up to date with the modern player. He's kept himself young by keeping that next generation around him, so he does understand this generation.' ## Everton's long-term vision for Dibling Dibling's signing was part of Everton's strategy under American owners The Friedkin Group, which combined established Premier League talents like Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall with younger prospects like Dibling, Merlin Rohl, and Adam Anzou for long-term potential. Despite limited minutes, there is no sign of lost faith; the club believes he is settling in, with Dibling recently sharing a short TikTok showing his enjoyment of life in the north. Dibling also faces increased competition from Tyrique George, who has impressed during his loan spell from Chelsea. ## The challenge of a hefty price tag Osman cautioned that the £40m fee amplifies expectations and scrutiny, noting that clubs pay premiums for young talents with Dibling's profile. He stressed that while adaptation takes time, Dibling is expected to feature prominently next season if he progresses as anticipated. 'In the modern market, if he had signed for £9m or £10m, everyone would understand that he wasn't ready and it's a project. When a club like Everton pay £40m for someone, they expect that £40m signing to be in the first team straight away, but that same modern market means you have to pay a lot of money as premium for these young kids with Dibling's talent. I would be absolutely amazed if Dibling wasn't at Everton next season and be expected to progress and be part of the of the team.'