Credit: Imago

Daniel Davis

Thu 23 April 2026 12:40, UK

Southampton were deeply sorry to see Tyler Dibling go, judging by one source’s praise.

“Tyler has uniqueness. In a world and industry which is becoming more commercialised, over sanitised, robotic, structured and predictable, Tyler’s greatest strength is the opposite to all of that,” they told BBC Sport after he was sold to Everton in a £35million deal.

At the time, this comment raised eyebrows – and understandably so. It felt more suited to a fluff piece about Lionel Messi than a teenager whose basic Premier League career numbers amounted to a mere 25 matches, 1540 minutes, two goals and zero assists.

His new club, though, were all too happy to buy into his reputation. A £100million price tag was mooted, but they were ultimately able to shake hands for significantly less.

However, fast forward to the present day, and he has made just 14 top-flight appearances for Everton. As a result, question marks are hanging over Dibling’s future on Merseyside.

David Moyes not impressed with Tyler Dibling

Awkwardly, Dibling had a foot in two camps after arriving at Hill Dickinson Stadium. On one side, he was recruited to light up matches long into the future. But on the other, there was an immediate expectation that he would make a first-team impact.

It has been a brutal balancing act for the 20-year-old, who has wilted in the spotlight.

He will be the first to admit that he has not lived up to the considerable outlay, even if it is now largely par for the course in the top-flight. He will be disappointed and David Moyes will be scratching his head, having given the club the green light to secure his signature.

It should not be forgotten that Moyes is the kingpin in Everton’s transfer business. He holds a veto over potential signings and helps to formulate decisions. It was telling, then, that he was so determined to recruit Dibling in the end, despite him not being his first-choice target.

Francisco Conceicao and Johan Bakayoko, who joined Juventus and RB Leipzig respectively during the summer, were reportedly on the Toffees’ shortlist. But their interest in Dibling persisted, and after numerous back-and-forth conversations, they struck an agreement.

The deal generated great excitement at Bramley-Moore. The youngster’s ceiling was believed to be near-limitless. Eight months on, though, and his career has already reached a crossroads. There remains faith in him from Moyes, but the clock is ticking.

Moyes has been clear that he wants to see more from Dibling.

“The one thing is Tyler has got on his side is that he is young and he is a quite a quiet boy who might take more time to settle in,” he said, via the Liverpool Echo. “Might.

“But he needs to show when he gets the opportunities.”

That emphasis on “might” was like a warning shot across Dibling’s bows, as was Moyes’ suggestion that unless he pulled his finger out, he risked being pushed aside. Around the same time, Tyrique George arrived on loan with an option to buy, adding more competition.

Dibling is known to be quiet and reserved, and he required time to settle in. His move to Chelsea in July 2022 lasted just two months, and spanned just two Under-18s appearances. Having struggled to adapt at Stamford Bridge, he returned to Southampton.

Three years later, he moved to Everton as a much more complete, mature player. He is expected to keep fighting for a future at Hill Dickinson, albeit potentially in vain.

Will Dibling get more opportunities?

According to The Athletic, Dibling was brought in as a right winger with the club believing they lacked genuine options after Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom departed in the summer. Based on feedback from scouts, however, he could develop to play as a No 10.

His versatility might see him brought back in from the cold during this season’s crucial run-in, with the European places still in sight. George remains ahead of him, but with the campaign balancing on a knife-edge, Moyes could be forced to rely on his fringe players.

Dibling undoubtedly has the talent to decide matches if he is summoned from the periphery. He has the ability to unlock stubborn defences if Everton need to go for broke.

The big question is where he would slot in. To play Dibling, Moyes would likely need to move Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall deeper and pull Iliman Ndiaye into the No 10 spot. However, this would be fiddling with the very same blueprint that has put his side in top-seven contention.

Ultimately, there are too many ifs, buts and maybes around Dibling. While Everton might still have a real gem on their hands, he is running out of time to prove it.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.