Everton midfielder Charly Alcaraz and Everton manager David Moyes in a circular inset

Charly Alcaraz and David MoyesImago

Can Charly Alcaraz be Everton's real redemption story this season?

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Published on:

17 Sep 2026, 6:40 am

For much of pre-sreason at Everton, the talk was about whether Tyler Dibling could have his redemption arc this season.

Signed from Southampton in a £40million deal in the summer of 2025, the mercurial winger has had his struggles in an Everton shirt.

There was hope of a much bigger impact this time around after a promising pre-season, particularly given Iliman Ndiaye was sold to Mancheser City.

But thus far he has been a frustrated onlooker in the Premier League, with both of his appearances coming in the Carabao Cup.

He did, though, make an impact last night by laying on the assist for Everton's only goal of the game in a 1-0 third-round win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The man who scored the goal, Charly Alcaraz, might be a man on a mission to have this own redemption arc this season, though.

Could Charly Alcaraz have a different use for Everton?

Alcaraz initially made the move to Everton for the second half of the 2024-25 season, and did enough in that loan spell to seal a permanent move.

Last season was a bit of a frustrating one for the attacking midfielder, though, who started just six Premier League games - failing to score and assisting just once.

The big problem for Alcaraz was that Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was utilised in the role that he would ideally want to occupy.

And so it has been this season so far as well, with Alcaraz making just two sub appearances in the Premier League amounting to nine minutes in total.

He had to come off the bench again in the Wolves fixture, but made a big impact with the winning goal.

Taking the ball from Dibling, Alcaraz shifted inside his defender and bent a lovely left-foot effort into the far corner.

It begged the question of whether Alcaraz might have his use in a more advanced attacking position as a sort of false nine/centre forward should there be a need to.

That might only have to be a short-term solution, but it could be something David Moyes gives thought to.

Everton player ratings vs Wolves: Thierno Barry terrible, 9/10 teammate a treat to watch

Alcaraz a back-up option to Thierno Barry?

It is absolutely no secret that Everton are shy of options at the top end of the field.

A dismal deadline day saw a move for Monaco ace Folarin Balogun collapse in dramatic circumstances, while a late attempt to bring in Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee on loan failed too.

With Beto's move to Fiorentina having already been signed off, it left Thierno Barry as the only recognised striker in Moyes' squad.

Barry is still a raw talent, and it could be problematic for him to be the only option, at least until January when Everton will surely look for a solution.

Alcaraz might just have the talent to help out in that regard and, who knows, have his own redemption arc this season.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall