(Credit: Breaking Media/ Manh Tung)

Jacob Raw

Mon 30 March 2026 15:10, UK

James Garner’s rise at Everton didn’t happen overnight, and it could be a similar story to what’s in store for Tyler Dibling.

The Toffees signed Dibling in a £42million package deal from Southampton in the summer, which has left many fans feeling frustrated given that he’s not offered much this season.

Players indeed need to take their chances when given them, and David Moyes has handed Dibling his opportunity to shine on more than one occasion, but he’s not done much with it.

The winger was almost loaned back out in the winter window, and many have suggested that his career at Hill Dickinson looks done already.

However, when looking at Garner’s phenomenal rise at Everton, it provides an important perspective.

It took James Garner four years to truly arrive; it could be the same with Tyler Dibling

Garner has just made his England debut during the international break, with the midfielder arguably Everton’s player of the season.

The ex-Manchester United man joined the Toffees in 2022, and it has taken four seasons for the Blues to see the very best of him.

Like Garner, Dibling came to Everton with a high reputation, but for different reasons. Garner had the background of being a Man United youth graduate, while Dibling had the weight of £40m on his shoulders.

It’s easy to forget, but Dibling is still only 20-years-old, and has more Premier League experience than most players his age for a good reason.

He’s rated by England’s youth coaches, just like Garner was back in the day, and the winger has time on his side to reach his full potential.

Dibling could still leave and come back to be an Everton success story

Dibling is on a four-year-deal with the Blues which will see him remain on Merseyside until the summer of 2029, which gives him plenty of time to improve.

Admittedly, Dibling could use a loan move to better his playing chances, and perhaps a move to the Championship could help get his confidence back up, with Moyes having already stated why the forward has seen a lack of game time.

Moyes said, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo in November: “We’ve not necessarily needed Tyler at the moment because our wide players are doing okay.”

Alternatively, if Everton were able to qualify for Europe next season, that would open up doors for more minutes in different competitions, as Moyes will be forced to use his full squad.

The moral of the story is not to write him off just yet. It was no fluke that he looked like a world beater at Southampton; confidence is a huge thing.