Since arriving in August 2025, Tyler Dibling has had limited opportunities in David Moyes’s side. But, with a winger overhaul underway behind the scenes, could he now have more chances to thrive?
For the final 14 games of the 2025-26 Premier League season, Dibling played a grand total of 1 minute, coming on as a substitute during a 2-0 win against Burnley in March.
There were segments of the season when opportunities were handed out, with minutes allocated in both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup. Unfortunately for Dibling, the Toffees’ cup runs were short-lived.
The reshuffle at Finch Farm may lead to Dibling being handed more opportunities. This is a talent that was regarded as one of English football’s brightest at Southampton, with former Saints manager Russel Martin insisting Dibling is capable of the extraordinary.
“He can do things that not many other players I've ever seen can do,” Martin said.
“I love watching him play. I'd pay a lot of money to watch him play football.”
Everton are yet to coax that from him.
With Jack Grealish’s loan spell at the Blues expiring, it is unclear at this stage whether Everton will sign the 30-year-old on a permanent deal. The Toffees, who have leaned towards youthful recruitment, might feel now is the time to trust them.
Perhaps the real question is: Is Dibling good enough?
The collective want for a ball carrier may be found through Dibling. The 20-year-old maintained an 83% passing completion rate and roughly won a foul every 35 minutes for Everton last season, despite limited minutes.
It may be better to reflect on Dibling’s tenure at Southampton, showing what the player can potentially unlock in Moyes’s system. During Dibling’s breakout year, the Englishman recorded 2.17 successful take-ons per 90 minutes, which ranked 9th among all Premier League wingers.
The end product is where some Evertonians may have doubts regarding Dibling. In 16 appearances for Everton so far, he has yet to register a goal or assist. For Southampton, there were 39 appearances, with two goals and two assists.
Beyond Grealish’s uncertain future, further competition has arrived in Tyrique George, who has signed permanently after he spent last season on loan at the Blues from Chelsea. George also featured sporadically last season and is in the same boat, hoping to earn Moyes’s trust in pre-season.
To cement himself in this Everton squad, Dibling must begin converting impressive on-the-ball highlights into goal contributions.
It is all well and good to have a prospective player, but if they do not provide any tangible end product, maybe they are not the answer. This is a big summer for the £40M recruit.
Reader Comments (24)
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 ()
2 Posted 16/07/2026 at 14:01:49
If he is, there is little hope of any flair players getting game time unless the learn how to defend.
3 Posted 16/07/2026 at 14:27:22
So if Moyes is gone by new year the new manager has access to him, and importantly the lad gains more fitness, strength and experience, and can keep some self-belief.
4 Posted 16/07/2026 at 15:22:15
If I had a choice as manager, I would prefer one who makes us win rather than look at their age. But too many on here would prefer a team of 20-year-olds and not worry if we lost every week.
5 Posted 16/07/2026 at 16:06:50
Some supporters believe that Moyes would deliberately not improve the side with a top quality player. As manager he is better placed than anyone on here to judge if Dibling can make a contribution.
With the little I have seen from him, he looks like a fish out of water but let's see what preseason brings before we find another stick to beat the manager with.
6 Posted 16/07/2026 at 16:14:53
He also looked reluctant when taking up a defensive position to help his fullback out. Not his forte.
7 Posted 16/07/2026 at 16:51:05
“He can do things that not many other players I've ever seen can do,” Martin said.
“I love watching him play. I'd pay a lot of money to watch him play football.”
£60 million and you can watch him in your team mate if you think he's that good.
8 Posted 16/07/2026 at 18:57:21
It's all down to him.
9 Posted 16/07/2026 at 20:10:30
Dibling had several bad appearances and one acceptable appearance.
He looks a far better player when with England U21s so I know that he has talent to burn.
Maybe he just needs to give his head a wobble.
10 Posted 16/07/2026 at 20:30:55
That was with Moyes's tried and trusted veterans playing.
11 Posted 16/07/2026 at 21:04:34
It's unfair on the player and the fans.
12 Posted 16/07/2026 at 21:24:40
Pretty sure TFG won't get involved in dictating that Dibling should be either played or sold.
Can't see how it's "unfair" on either the player or the fans.
13 Posted 16/07/2026 at 21:29:19
He has definitely got loads of ability but, unless he wants to get his head down, run hard and show that he really wants to play for Everton, then I'm not convinced by his chances of making the grade under Moyes.
If I'm being honest, I find it a little bit odd the number of young players we have signed. Moyes likes experience, experience is vital in the Premier League, but because young players are only going to really improve by playing regularly, then something just doesn't feel right about our recruitment policy, right now.
14 Posted 16/07/2026 at 21:51:24
Moyes has to give some of last seasons benchwarmers ample playing time to prove themselves and if not then they will be up for offers. He knows the regular squad players and what they can do and of course they need pre-season time too to regain fitness levels.
The pre-season games look a real test this year, especially the final three, so we all hope by then some of those fringe players have come good and all will be ready for that all important first game -- unlike last season.
Hopefully Jarrad Branthwaite will be totally fit and we have some more stability in the back line.
15 Posted 16/07/2026 at 22:44:48
Theres a talent in there in we need to chill out, the lad is just 20, we have a gem it just needs a bit of polish and a decision as to where his best position is, taking into account his attributes.
As Evertonians we should start to get a little bit excited, we have some potentially outstanding talent at the club now, Branthwaite, Dibling, KDH, Garner, Hackney, George, Armstrong, Rohl, Ndiaye all at the right age to progress. Yes we need a right back, striker and possibly another wide player but there is some talent cooking !
16 Posted 16/07/2026 at 00:02:42
I think Jake O’Brien is a gem. And if Jarrad ever proves he can stay healthy, I think he and Jake very shortly become one of the top young center back combinations in the league.
17 Posted 17/07/2026 at 07:26:28
But in a topical way, these young players should be looking at the next World Cup in four years thinking “I can do better than this lot” and aim for the moon.
Dibling, Hackney, Branthwaite, Garner, KDH, Armstrong and (is he English?) George are all potential future England players.
I’d be excited about this group IF I thought Moyes could get the best out of them.
18 Posted 17/07/2026 at 07:46:20
People automatically think like the three month summer break is some kind of morphing transformation but this will still be a player under the same manager that gave him hardly any chances last season, a few friendly matches that probably will see more limited opportunity won't make a difference.
19 Posted 17/07/2026 at 09:02:39
The player came to Everton with aspirations of playing in a successful team and he hasn’t had a sniff so far. It’s a waste of good money and the players time.
20 Posted 17/07/2026 at 10:12:50
The two European minor competitions have so many mediocre teams that it is possible for Premier League teams to successfully play several fringe players in most of the matches.
Dibling, Armstrong, Aznou et al will not be getting those opportunities thanks to Moyes's incompetence.
21 Posted 17/07/2026 at 10:26:49
Many of the young players should have been integrated in the European campaign for this new season, and we'd have needed them, and a big squad.
People forget that when they say "Screw Europe".
22 Posted 17/07/2026 at 14:02:38
Whatever the process was to sign him they thought he was worth £35-£40 million so the lad must have been doing plenty right, you wouldn't think he should go from that amount to worth nothing like that.
23 Posted 17/07/2026 at 14:16:02
When Everton bought the 19 year old at the time, he was bought as a future prospect, a player Everton could work with and eventually work him into the first team, it was only the huge price tag that people thought he has to start straight away.
Had we paid say £2 million, no one would be expecting a 19 year old to come straight into the team and would have been more patient with Dibbling.
When Dibbling is ready, Moyes will throw him into the first team, he needs a good pre season before anything, same with Tyrique George and Harrison Armstrong.
Whether Moyes is here after his contract finishes next June, or he takes the Scotland job, his replacement will have a decent set of players that Moyes will have put through their paces and squad rebuild.
George, Dibbling, Harrison Armstrong, Hackney, Rohl, Dewsbury Hall, just for starters, then Branthwaite and O,Brien centre half pairing, the makings of a very good team with a few more adfitions, mainly a right back and decent striker.
Some of those here before Moyes took over but whatever we think of him team selection and subs, he normally has a good eye for a player.
Once these players get Moyes trust, he will bring them in, when he thinks they will do a better job over experianced tried and tested Moyes safety first players.
Like I say, whether Moyes remains or not, its about the best squad we have had for a long time, get the right back and striker issue sorted and we could be in for a decent season.
24 Posted 17/07/2026 at 15:30:21
He is probably the last of a dying breed, skill and flair not yet drilled out of him by the robotic academies.
Add Your Comments
In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.
Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.
How to get rid of these ads and support TW
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
1 Posted 16/07/2026 at 12:55:58
So, whilst David Moyes is our manager, he won't be seeing much game time (apart from pre-season friendlies).