Everton’s 2025/26 season has opened with a sense of both transition and promise.
After five matches, the Toffees sit in 10th place in the Premier League with seven points, though they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup this week by Wolves.
The club’s summer business has been shaped by significant departures and bold moves in the transfer market, signalling a shift in strategy under David Moyes.
Veterans Ashley Young, Abdoulaye Doucouré, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin all departed, leaving gaps in leadership and experience.
In their place, Everton turned to proven top-flight quality in Jack Grealish from Manchester City and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea.
Both players add flair and creativity to the midfield.
Perhaps more importantly, Moyes has overseen a clear push towards youth development.
Alongside 22-year-old Thierno Barry, the club added highly rated teenagers Tyler Dibling from Southampton and Adam Aznou from Bayern Munich.
Everton were also linked with the likes of Abdul Fatawu (21) and Omari Hutchinson (21), highlighting the direction of travel.
With Goodison Park increasingly becoming a platform for emerging stars, Moyes appears determined to blend youthful exuberance with established quality.
Tyler Dibling is a prime example of Everton’s youth drive
At just 19 years old, Tyler Dibling has become the poster boy for Everton’s summer recruitment.
The winger was one of Southampton’s most promising prospects last season, making 33 Premier League appearances.
Tyler Dibling – 2024/25
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Matches Played
33
Minutes
1,874
Goals
2
Progressive Carries
69
Progressive Passes
64
Source: FBref
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Though he scored just two goals and registered a single assist in 1,874 minutes, his impact extended beyond statistics. Dibling’s direct dribbling style drew admiration from scouts across the country.
Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham, and Bayern Munich were all credited with interest before Everton secured his signature in a deal worth up to £42m – the club’s biggest signing of the summer.
For Moyes, who had grown frustrated with the lack of activity earlier in the window, Dibling’s arrival marked a decisive statement of intent.
The England U21 international has already been trusted with minutes for the Toffees. He came on in the Merseyside derby, replacing Iliman Ndiaye – a significant moment for a player tipped to play a long-term role in Moyes’ plans.
His signing was also strategically important, filling the right-wing berth vacated by Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom.
What sets Dibling apart is his well-rounded statistical profile.
He ranks in the 92nd percentile for fouls drawn (2.49 per 90) and an incredible 98th percentile for penalty kicks won (0.10 per 90), per FBref.
Defensively, he is remarkably diligent for a teenager, ranking in the 88th percentile for tackles in the midfield third (0.86) and in the 98th percentile for percentage of dribblers tackled (61.5%).
He also excels in blocking shots (96th percentile, 0.24 per 90) and consistently challenges defenders, ranking in the 87th percentile for attempted take-ons (5.28) and 81st percentile for successful take-ons (2.16).
This blend of defensive tenacity, attacking ambition, and technical flair makes Dibling one of the most intriguing prospects Everton have invested in for years.
His presence offers fans hope that the club’s commitment to youth will produce tangible results in the seasons to come.
Kieran Dowell was the one that got away
For every Dibling, however, there is a cautionary tale.
Kieran Dowell is one name that still lingers in Evertonian memory, though not for the reasons once hoped.
A product of the club’s academy, Dowell made his debut in 2014 at just 16 years old during a Europa League group stage.
His talent was evident early on, and he became part of the U23 squad that won the inaugural Premier League 2 title. Yet Dowell’s path never truly took flight at Goodison Park.
A series of loan spells followed, including stints at Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United, as Everton searched for the right environment for his development. Ultimately, he was unable to establish himself as a first-team regular, and in 2020, he departed permanently for Norwich City for £1.5m.
Now 27, Dowell is playing for Rangers in Scotland, where he has made six appearances this season, including three in Champions League qualifying.
During his time at Norwich, though, the left-footed attacking midfielder, who has a similar profile to Dibling, had some moments of pure quality, including the wonderful link-up with Emi Buendia in the clip below.
Journalist Alex Dicken once remarked that he “offers something different in the final third,” and indeed, Dowell’s creativity has been valued previously, with that creativity also on display in that strike against Huddersfield.
He also enjoyed a strong international youth career, representing England at every level up to the U21s, for whom he made 17 appearances, his last cap coming in 2019.
The hope will be that young Dibling’s trajectory ends differently, as another talented, young, left-footed playmaker, cementing Everton’s gamble on youth as the foundation for lasting progress.
Dowell showed great potential as a youngster and went on to showcase his quality with Norwich, winning the Championship in the 2020/21 campaign, which is why the Toffees may feel that they messed up by selling him for just £1.5m in 2020.