What Everton supporters can expect from Tyler Dibling

After several weeks of offers and counteroffers, Everton have completed the signing of Tyler Dibling.

​The English right winger joins from Southampton on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee, reportedly in the range of £42 million. So what should Everton supporters expect from the 19-year-old set to don number 20 for the Toffees?

​A product of the Southampton academy, notable in recent years for developing players like Gareth Bale, Dibling transferred to the Chelsea academy in 2022. However, he returned to Southampton later that season after getting homesick.

He made his competitive debut for the Saints in 2023, at the age of 17, and went on to appear 44 times for the club, enjoying a breakout campaign last year.

​Dibling played in several positions on the right side for Southampton, most often as a right winger playing in a three behind a single striker. He also appeared as a right-sided central midfielder in a 4-3-3 formation, as a right-wing back, and as a right-sided striker in a front two.

​It’s difficult to judge players like Dibling on their productivity. His two goals and no assists in 33 Premier League appearances last year might seem lacklustre, but he was a bright spark in a side that was pretty terrible.

​Other stats shine a better light on why he’s so highly rated. Dibling loves to take players on with the ball at his feet, averaging 5.29 attempted take-ons per 90, roughly the same as Iliman Ndiaye, with a slightly lower completion rate.

​Watching him play is reminiscent of a young Jack Grealish. He’s adept at keeping the ball close to his feet and shifting his weight to bait defenders, often drawing a foul if he doesn’t get past them.

​Last campaign, Dibling drew 50 fouls for Southampton; Everton’s most fouled player, Ndiaye, drew 52. In two of his better performances of the season, against Manchester United and Liverpool, Dibling won penalties for his side, as the opposing full-backs struggled to deal with his close control when driving into the box.

​He’s not a winger who hugs the touchline. Predominantly left-footed, he likes cutting in to play, slicing through balls to the striker, or making space on his left for a shot.

​When the ball is on the opposite side of the pitch, he gets himself into the box. All his goals for Southampton last season were short-range efforts from a cross or pass into his feet in the penalty area. The best of the bunch was his goal against Ipswich Town, a brilliant first touch taking him past the defender and leaving just the keeper to beat.

​He’s a nonchalant player; don’t expect to see him darting around the pitch, but he’s very positionally aware, making use of open space, and keeping an eye on where defenders are positioned around him.

​That confidence and ability to demand the ball and make something happen at just 19 years old is why he’s so well-regarded amongst analysts and scouts.

​It’s a decent price tag, and takes Everton’s summer spending to £124m. But there’s little downside; he’s already proven he can make an impact against top-level opposition, and his age adds significant resale value.

​The next question is where we will see him in the team? Likely off the bench at first after a strong performance from the front four at the weekend. But in the future, a combination of Grealish, Ndiaye, and Dibling, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Idrissa Gueye behind, would be a scary sight for Premier League defences.

---

Reader Comments (23)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer ()

How to get rid of these ads and support TW

---