Merlin Röhl has made a strong impression on David Moyes and his staff since joining Everton on Deadline Day.
The German midfielder has experienced a turbulent start to his career with the Blues after picking up an injury shortly after making his Everton debut. Röhl returned to the fray in the 2-0 defeat to Manchester City last week and Moyes is keen on integrating the midfielder more prominently going forward.
“We've been really impressed with what we've seen from Merlin. Certainly, his physicals are something else, they really are, so there's lots about him we like,” said Moyes.
Röhl was wonderful on his Everton debut against Aston Villa and the early signs are promising. He joined the club from SC Freiburg on an initial loan deal, which will be made permanent for £18M if the Toffees maintain their top-flight status.
“We'll keep edging him in and getting him through when we can.
“It would be easier to put him in if we had games in Europe — it's a bit harder when you're having to win a Premier League game and you only get one go at it.
“But we've been hugely impressed by him,” the Everton boss added.
The addition of Röhl brings welcome competition to the Everton midfield, which has been helmed by James Garner and Idrissa Gueye. While Tim Iroegbunam has also featured in games, he has blown hot and cold. Röhl also brings different elements to the Everton midfield, including his physicality, which could benefit the side in different game states, with his versatility also being lauded by his manager.
“He can play so many roles. We would have no problem tucking him in off the sides or maybe even putting him as a full-back or a midfield player.
“He can play higher up or lower down, so he gives us quite a lot of flexibility,” said Moyes.
Reader Comments (25)
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2 Posted 25/10/2025 at 19:58:46
3 Posted 25/10/2025 at 19:59:19
4 Posted 25/10/2025 at 21:05:19
He really is a safety-first dullard; which, fair play to him, has earned him millions and the respect of every dullard in football.
5 Posted 25/10/2025 at 21:17:45
Clearly doesn't trust him to start in the Premier League.
6 Posted 25/10/2025 at 22:14:43
Pieces of the jigsaw are falling into place.
Just need a few more transfer windows...
7 Posted 25/10/2025 at 22:36:25
But hey, if it's a chance to moan about Moyes — bring it on...
8 Posted 25/10/2025 at 22:40:37
Adam Aznou reminds me of a young Leighton Baines. He's struggling a bit with the physicality but I am convinced he is the greatest ever to come out of Morocco. All he needs is a few months or years to bed in and he will be one hell of a player.
I think Moyes is having a laugh at TFG's expense...
9 Posted 25/10/2025 at 22:45:02
But how can a man give a player so many positives, and then end it with such caution, considering he was signed to play in the Premier League after all?
10 Posted 25/10/2025 at 22:45:47
Utterly wonderful defence of your hero.
An utter gem.👏👏👏👏
11 Posted 25/10/2025 at 22:56:01
You're so blindingly, obviously right that anyone who doesn't get it must go to bed at night with their "I Hate Moyes" PJs on.
12 Posted 25/10/2025 at 23:04:03
I don't want to ever think about you not wearing PJs.
13 Posted 25/10/2025 at 23:05:25
If a player is good enough, then just let him play, because I honestly don't think there is any better way to learn, especially when he's already impressing everyone inside the club.
My guess is that David will play him tomorrow.
14 Posted 25/10/2025 at 23:10:56
He was signed on 1 September, so missed the first 4 games of the season.
He's then missed 4 games or 37 days from injury.
He's played in the 2 Premier League games he's been available, and a couple of minutes vs Wolves in the Carabao Cup.
It would appear to be a manager allowing a kid, new to a new league, to get up to speed after injuries, whilst backing two lads in Garner & Gana to start ahead of him in the two-and-a-bit games he's been available.
Make more of it as you like. But I can't see how he can play more games when he's injured.
There's a further irony that some supporters were digging him out against Villa.
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏.
15 Posted 25/10/2025 at 23:11:57
Was it 2 for 1... you and Dave?
16 Posted 25/10/2025 at 23:30:24
17 Posted 25/10/2025 at 23:42:13
He posted them...
Would have been a nice gesture... if he hadn't worn them first.
18 Posted 25/10/2025 at 23:45:39
Ian, please forgive those applauding hands. I only just discovered them and, well had to use them.
19 Posted 25/10/2025 at 23:55:36
When you next down in Bundoran?
20 Posted 26/10/2025 at 04:58:04
He couldn't be calculatingly misleading the opposition, could he? And do leopards change their spots? Or is he just giving prior consideration to any substitutions to be made on the hour mark?
21 Posted 26/10/2025 at 13:37:51
I have said previously and I will say again that he would outshine the "Dark Sides" German signing ( and before hand) because he has the physicality and ability as the Manager has mentioned to thrive in the Prem.
I think we have a potential Michael Ballack type player on our hands.
£18m is going to be an absolute steal.
22 Posted 26/10/2025 at 14:06:18
It really is as if the notion of being able to use all options available to him by making full use of those 5 substitutions hasn’t occurred to him.
23 Posted 26/10/2025 at 15:29:19
Moyes's conservatism rules.
24 Posted 26/10/2025 at 15:31:45
25 Posted 26/10/2025 at 15:35:37
Our side has been pretty decent and pretty settled with the same lineup you see today -- why suddenly drop a player and change it? Managers big-up players all the time -- it's called management / PR.
You don't have to take it quite so literally.
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1 Posted 25/10/2025 at 19:45:21