(Credit: Imago)

Daniel Davis

Sun 10 May 2026 7:10, UK

Watching Merlin Rohl turn on the afterburners against Manchester City, you wouldn’t have known it was only his third Premier League start for Everton.

Asked to play in an unfamiliar role out on the right, he didn’t put a foot wrong in the pulsating 3-3 draw, raising questions over David Moyes‘ reluctance to fully trust him this season.

Rohl helped to create the hosts’ third goal and was unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty after being brought down by Bernardo Silva, demonstrating that he can still have an impact on the club’s bid to secure a spot in Europe. It has been a stunning turnaround.

The 23-year-old would have been forgiven had he allowed his head to drop. His last top-flight start, after all, came back in January during the 1-0 victory over Aston Villa, but during his time out of the spotlight, he worked hard in training in a bid to catch Moyes’ eye.

His display against City came at the perfect time. Everton have no choice but to sign Rohl, whose £18million switch from Freiburg is expected to be confirmed imminently.

Merlin Rohl’s patience pays off

It was no surprise to see Rohl smile after his lung-busting, lively performance. “I’m here living my dream, playing for a great club, playing in the best league in the world,” he told reporters post-match. “Inside me, there’s no need to only play in one position.

“I’m happy to be on the pitch, to play in front of these great supporters, in a great stadium.”

That, in a nutshell, is what makes him such a perfect player for Moyes. Rohl is willing to muck in all across the pitch and brings with him an irresistible energy. He also remained mentally strong after a turbulent start and could now reap the rewards.

Whisper it quietly, but perhaps Moyes’ questionable approach toward the midfielder has paid off. The Scot deserves plenty of credit for leading the Toffees to the cusp of Europe, especially with this campaign having been earmarked as a transition between two eras.

Still, his methods haven’t been universally accepted. Fringe players have often remained out in the cold, with little hope of a reprieve. Moyes has also stuck to his guns tactically, while his decisive say on crucial transfer decisions means the squad is built around his vision.

But the proof is in the pudding. Everton have been effective, if not exactly eye-catching, during matches. They compete well, allowing them to steadily rack up points. Rohl’s inclusion against City, as well as Tim Iroegbunam’s all-action display, has vindicated Moyes.

Outside of the club, Rohl’s switch was quickly cast as a failure. He had disappeared from the squad after impressing against Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, despite Moyes’ warm words. The picture was grim indeed for a player who knew his future lay on Merseyside.

After playing 92 minutes at Hill Dickinson last time out, Rohl freely told journalists that he was happy at Everton, insisting he felt “trusted” by Moyes. On the pitch, that relaxed nature shone through in his showing. Handed a rare start, he made the most of his opportunity.

His breakthrough had been a long time coming. As well as working hard in training, he worked tirelessly to improve his grasp of English language. After the 1-0 win against Villa in January, he described his interview with journalists as “sound”, slang for “good” in Liverpool.

That will have helped endear him to supporters who, in truth, weren’t quite sure what to expect from him. They may not be entirely won over yet, but there will be plenty of time for that to change with Rohl to become the club’s first arrival of the summer transfer window.

£18m is a fair amount, but the ace will hope to eventually repay every penny. He speaks well, reads the game intelligently, and boasts a wise head on young shoulders, so much so that he represented himself during discussions with Everton instead of his representatives.

Moyes and his lieutenants were quickly impressed by Rohl’s efforts during training drills. Indeed, the Scot described the midfielder’s physicals as “something else” back in October, believing he had the potential to go on to become one of the Premier League’s best athletes.

Fresh hope for Tyler Dibling

Not every fringe player has been as fortunate as Rohl, however. Tyler Dibling remains a bemusing outcast despite joining for a whopping £40million from Southampton.

Dibling clearly has work to do at Everton, Moyes having hinted that his inability to improve in training will cost him again next season. The youngster has made just 17 appearances this season, with just 513 minutes under his belt. He has not registered a single goal or assist.

As a result, it has not been ruled out that he could be shipped out this summer. On the flip side, Moyes’ tough love toward both Rohl and Iroegbunam has paid dividends, so perhaps Dibling must simply wait just a little longer to be handed his big opportunity to impress.

It is a risk he must weigh up at the end of the season.

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