When a £100 million price tag was placed on Tyler Dibling, the speculation surrounding his future at Southampton turned into a running joke among his teammates.
This reflected just how highly regarded the exceptionally talented Dibling had become, even as the Saints faced impending relegation long before the 2022/2023 season ended.
Advertisement
When Dibling finally made his move, amidst links with Tottenham and RB Leipzig, he ultimately signed with Everton in a £40 million deal, marking one of the club’s most expensive transfers in history.
Dibling was celebrated as a generational talent, expected to play a pivotal role in Everton’s new chapter at Hill Dickinson Stadium under manager David Moyes.
However, the 20-year-old’s initial season was marked by a lack of playing time, as he made only four Premier League starts and totaled just 513 minutes on the pitch.
He was also passed over when Jack Grealish, whose dynamic dribbling style drew comparisons, suffered a season-ending foot injury. Instead, Dwight McNeil, who Everton had considered selling to Crystal Palace until a late hitch derailed the deal, was preferred instead.
Advertisement
Dibling is known for his introverted nature, and despite Everton’s desire for more from his debut season, there remains confidence in his future. It was understood that a young player might take time to acclimatize to life in the north.
Moyes is not overly concerned, though he won’t find himself in the starting lineup for Monday night’s game against Manchester City.
“He’ll need to improve in both his work ethic and training,” Moyes stated. “We also signed Tyrique George on loan from Chelsea to ensure we had appropriate coverage.
“We want Tyler to rise to the occasion. He is crucial for us. We invested significant faith and funds in him, so we expect to see much more.”
This summer’s pre-season is viewed as pivotal for his development—a chance to demonstrate he is prepared to compete for a regular spot.