Everton are enjoying a red-hot run of form. After closing out October with an EFL Cup victory over Newcastle United, the Toffees completed the double over the Magpies with a win at St. James’ Park before coming from behind to beat Coventry City 3-1.
In the space of a fortnight, Everton have climbed from 11th to fifth in the Premier League table, and they’ll be looking to maintain that momentum when they return from the international break with a trip to Brentford. One player who could prove crucial to their ambitions is Tyler Dibling.
Born in Exeter on February 17, 2006, Dibling spent a decade in Southampton’s academy before departing for Chelsea in 2022, having been promised a professional contract upon turning 17.
However, he struggled to settle in London and soon returned to St. Mary’s, signing a scholarship deal. A year later, he made his first-team debut and helped Southampton secure promotion to the Premier League, where he quickly established himself as one of their most dangerous attacking players.
Dibling couldn’t prevent Southampton’s relegation, but he did establish himself as one of the most exciting young talents in world football, alongside the likes of Geovany Quenda, Jude Terry and Gilberto Mora. His performances convinced Everton to splash out £35 million plus £5 million in add-ons, a considerable investment in a player who had registered just seven goal contributions in 38 appearances, all of them coming before February. Having previously struggled with homesickness and completed just one full season of senior football, Dibling was always likely to need time to adjust to life on Merseyside.
Despite arriving in the final weeks of the summer transfer window, Dibling was immediately given opportunities to showcase his talent under David Moyes, featuring in seven of Everton’s first nine matches before spending more than a month on the sidelines.
He finally began to build some momentum in December, making six consecutive appearances, including three straight starts, only to be hauled off at halftime against Brentford and left out of the following two matches. Substitute appearances against Leeds United and Brighton did little to restore him to Moyes’ good graces.
Dibling would play just one minute across the final four months of the campaign as Everton went from challenging for Champions League qualification to stumbling down the home stretch and finishing 13th. With his debut season having fallen well short of expectations, speculation mounted that Everton could cut their losses and recoup their investment, with RB Leipzig reportedly monitoring him as a potential replacement for Yan Diomande.
Ultimately, however, Dibling remained at Hill Dickinson Stadium, a decision that is gradually beginning to pay dividends. After starting Everton’s EFL Cup victory over Preston North End, he made his 20th appearance for the club in their third-round clash against Wolves, setting up Carlos Alcaraz’s late winner. It was his first goal contribution in an Everton shirt, and it earned him his first Premier League appearance of the new campaign against Ipswich Town.
Dibling then departed for international duty, coming off the bench for England’s U-21s against Kazakhstan and Slovakia before opening the scoring against the Republic of Ireland. Upon returning to Merseyside, however, he was once again forced to bide his time, making a late cameo in Everton’s goalless draw at Hull City before remaining an unused substitute against Chelsea.
After coming off the bench against Arsenal, Dibling was handed a starting berth on the right flank against Newcastle, and he made the most of his opportunity. The youngster created two chances, made three ball recoveries and won five of his 10 ground duels as Everton cruised to a 3-1 victory at St. James’ Park. Having helped the Toffees book an EFL Cup quarterfinal against Fleetwood Town, Dibling returned to the bench, with Moyes opting for the more defensively minded Merlin Röhl on the right wing.
However, with Röhl shifting to right back against Coventry, Dibling was restored to the starting lineup and rewarded his manager’s faith with an industrious display. He registered six defensive contributions and five progressive carries, demonstrating that he could offer far more than the occasional moment of individual brilliance. For a player whose defensive discipline and tactical maturity had previously been questioned, it was another encouraging step in his development.
Breaking into Everton’s starting lineup is no easy task, either. Jordan Pickford has been a constant between the sticks for nearly a decade, while Jarrad Branthwaite has forged a formidable central defensive partnership with James Tarkowski, alongside ever-present left back Vitaliy Mykolenko. Thierno Barry has flourished as Everton’s lone center forward, earning praise from former Toffees like Dave Jones, while Harrison Armstrong has cemented his place in a midfield trio alongside James Garner and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. On the left flank, meanwhile, Tyrique George has capitalized on Jack Grealish’s disciplinary troubles to establish himself as a regular starter.
If there is one area of the pitch where Moyes has yet to settle on his preferred personnel, however, it is the right flank. Jake O’Brien, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Röhl have all competed for the right back position, while the Everton manager is still searching for the ideal replacement for the mercurial Iliman Ndiaye further forward.
Moyes initially turned to summer signing Brennan Johnson, but the 25-year-old’s lack of attacking production has opened the door for Dibling to stake his claim. While Johnson is at his most dangerous when exploiting space behind opposition defenses, Dibling offers a different dimension to Everton’s attack. Comfortable receiving the ball to feet and taking on defenders in tight spaces, the former Southampton winger can help Everton sustain possession, progress the ball through individual dribbling and unlock compact defensive blocks.
It’s a contrast that could prove particularly important against opponents who are content to sit deep and deny Everton space in behind. Where Johnson relies on his pace and movement to stretch defenses, Dibling possesses the close control and unpredictability to unsettle them even when space is at a premium. Crucially, his recent performances suggest that he is beginning to complement those natural gifts with the defensive work rate and tactical discipline Moyes demands from his wide players.
Neither winger has registered a goal contribution in the Premier League this season, with both managing their only assists in the EFL Cup. They’ll be eager to change that when Everton travel to the Gtech Community Stadium to face Brentford.
For Dibling, however, the stakes extend beyond ending his Premier League drought. Just a few months ago, his Everton future appeared uncertain, with questions mounting over whether the club had made a costly mistake in bringing him to Merseyside. Now, he has a golden opportunity to turn those doubts into belief, establish himself as Moyes’ first-choice right winger and finally deliver on the promise that made him one of English football’s most coveted young talents.
Read – The Premier League teams with the most points after 10 games
See Also – Five of the best Premier League away kits in 2026/27