Column What can Everton supporters expect from Merlin Röhl? Transfer deadline day saw just one new player come through the doors, 23-year-old central midfielder Merlin Röhl Angus Kearney 3 September 2025 23comments (last) After a busy summer transfer window at Everton, transfer deadline day saw just one new player come through the doors, 23-year-old central midfielder Merlin Röhl, who joined the club from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg on loan with an obligation to buy. Röhl came onto the Bundesliga scene in the Fall of 2023, after joining SC Freiburg from Ingolstadt, where he’d made 54 appearances in the second and third tiers of German football. The 6’-3" German quickly became a regular in the side, starting 17 games and notching three goals and assists that season. He also earned himself a nomination for Bundesliga Rookie of the Month in November 2023. He scored some beautiful goals that season, including a fantastic solo effort against RB Leipzig, where he held off multiple defenders while driving through midfield with the ball at his feet, and a brilliant outside-the-box volley against Borussia Mönchengladbach. His three assists that season came mostly from wide areas, where he showcased his passing range with some well-weighted low-driven crosses, as opposed to the short link-up play he was more accustomed to in the centre of the park. Unfortunately for Röhl, injury struggles curtailed some of his progress last season, appearing in only 19 matches with 11 starts after missing several months of action with both a high ankle sprain and a heel injury. A midfielder who can occupy several different roles, some of his best games came when playing in a position slightly further up the pitch, occupying the space behind the striker. However, he’s also played games as part of a double pivot in central midfield, and occasionally appeared on the flanks as an inverted winger. Over the summer, he played as a left-sided central midfielder in a 4-3-3 while captaining the Germany U21 side at the 2025 European Championships. Versatility is probably Röhl’s greatest strength; he does a lot of things really well, but maybe nothing spectacularly well. He’s got great energy, links play well in midfield, can test the keeper from distance, and gets stuck into tackles. But he probably isn’t going to score loads or notch a ton of assists. In 2023-24, he ranked sixth in the team with 1.5 shots per 90 and sixth in the team with 19 chances created. Five combined goals and assists placed him fifth at the club, and 1.3 successful dribbles per 90 placed him second. His shooting statistics took a hit last year, dropping down to just 0.3 per 90, as did his chances created. But he still ranked third overall for successful dribbles per 90. The area of his game that should lend itself best to the Premier League is his ability to win the ball high up the pitch. In both his seasons with Freiburg, he ranked first in the squad for possession won in the opposition's final third, and in the top three for possession won in midfield. For Everton, this is where he should really help the team. In matches like the one against Wolves last weekend, when the team required additional legs and defensive solidity to see out the game, replacing one of the forward line with Röhl will provide that. As David Moyes said himself, he brings something different to the midfield options currently at his disposal. In addition, signing young but experienced foreign players to bolster an already strong squad is a low-risk, high-reward strategy that’s proven highly successful for clubs like Brighton and Bournemouth. It’s not the right-back most Everton supporters were hoping for, but it’s a signing to be hopeful about nonetheless. 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 () Christine Foster 1 Posted 03/09/2025 at 18:01:38 Great background to a very good player by the sound of it. What is becoming evident is that we have bought midfielders who have the capability of scoring goals. This appears to be a deliberate alternative to trying to buy a rare or very expensive prolific striker. If the all pitch in with 5 or 6 goals this season is will make for some very good games. The way to go, welcome Merlin! Paul Kossoff 2 Posted 03/09/2025 at 18:19:41 Christine, I've been advocating the false nine, Barcelona, anyone is the striker style for a while. It works because the defenders don't know who to pick up. But even in an, anyone can play there, you still have to have specific roles to play. Did you notice, against Wolves, players were switching positions, Grealish and Ndiaye? We now have a squad that can do this. But Moyes is a stickler for players doing a specific job. This team we have now doesn't seem to be his type. I wonder who is behind the switch of tactics.With the injuries we have in defence, let's hope our attacking play can keep the defence protected. Exiting times. Rob Hooton 3 Posted 03/09/2025 at 19:16:40 Freiburg fans seem to rate this lad highly and are sorry to see him leave, hopefully we've got a good young versatile player on our hands – surely his shooting has to be better than Gueye's!Touch of Fellaini about him… Don Alexander 4 Posted 03/09/2025 at 19:52:31 Never seen him play but the write-up reminds me of one Paul Madeley, a Leeds player years ago who was very good indeed wherever he played from 2 to 11.Here's hoping!Willkommen Merlin me ol' sausage. John Raftery 5 Posted 03/09/2025 at 21:17:44 We now have some top quality players fully capable of switching positions as they did against Wolves. There was little point in a manager asking inferior players to switch positions when they have their work cut out trying to be effective in one position. Ian Bennett 6 Posted 03/09/2025 at 21:26:39 This team we have now dosn't seem to be his type. I wonder who is behind the switch of tactics.Perhaps just accept he's giving it a good go, in likely his last big club job. Brendan McLaughlin 7 Posted 03/09/2025 at 21:29:15 John Rafferty #5Probably the most understated but incisive post I've ever read on ToffeeWeb. Tony Abrahams 8 Posted 03/09/2025 at 21:36:47 I think Anthony Gordon, plays that false nine, very well Paul K, and because I havent seen that much of Dibling, I was wondering if this is a position that he might eventually be able to take up? Andrew Merrick 9 Posted 03/09/2025 at 21:47:10 Paul, John, I too noted players enjoying some flexibility in position, notably Jack and Illy, this allows them to be more creative and asks more of the opposition. Very pleased we are able to include such creativity at last. Paul Kossoff 10 Posted 03/09/2025 at 23:22:49 Tony, apparently Dibling and Röhl can both play central and have the skill set to do a good job. Andrew, I wonder if they were told to switch? There is a video of Dibling scoring three identical goals running at the defence through the middle in the same match. The lad we bought for left-back, Aznou, can play in different positions and also has excellent ball skills. We seem to now have a team of jugglers and a magician. Where are the clowns? Don't worry, they're gone. Martin Reppion 11 Posted 03/09/2025 at 23:29:46 Oh Paul, if only.They run the league! Paul Kossoff 12 Posted 03/09/2025 at 23:43:31 Martin, how true, I forgot. Maybe with the new Yank owners they can ship us all to The States and play us in the MLS league. No clowns, I hate clowns. I remember my dad took me to a circus, full of clowns. I ran out the place screaming, my dad was very worried about me, I was 21 at the time. Glenn Lambert-Vickers 13 Posted 03/09/2025 at 23:51:28 #12 Paul, made my night. Just what I needed. 🤣😂 Brendan McLaughlin 14 Posted 03/09/2025 at 23:51:38 Paul #12Are you sure that wasn't your first Everton match? Would explain a lot. Bob Parrington 15 Posted 04/09/2025 at 01:20:51 You guys are hysterical! Thanks for making me laugh. Andrew Merrick 16 Posted 04/09/2025 at 07:31:01 Paul 10, the arrival of Jack Grealish may be the catalyst for some flexibility, Iliman Ndiaye had a tendency to go on his mazy runs and Moyes most have been happy with that. Against Mansfield, Jack had some freedom to roam, and by the Wolves game, this seemed to be developing further.Add Dewsbury-Hall and Dibling into this mix and we have several players with enough talent to test opposition and entertain us.It will be a test to get the balance right though, but the early signs are very promising.Not the old school Davey Moyes, is it...? Alex Parr 17 Posted 04/09/2025 at 12:49:28 Feel this is his Mk.2 Fellaini personally.. Paul Kossoff 18 Posted 04/09/2025 at 14:44:18 Glen and Bob, great to laugh.😁 Eric Myles 19 Posted 04/09/2025 at 15:25:48 Paul #2 "But Moyes is a stickler for players doing a specific job. This team we have now doesn't seem to be his type. I wonder who is behind the switch of tactics."I have it on good authority that he's listening to the ball boy just outside the dugout. Andrew Ellams 20 Posted 04/09/2025 at 15:40:22 Tony @ 8, the best player we have for that false 9 position is Iliman N'Diaye. Derek Knox 21 Posted 04/09/2025 at 17:14:42 While we were not desperate for another midfielder, I do like the look of this guy. My viewing is via Youtube clips, (I know) they all look good on that, but he seems quite dynamic and has a good assist/scoring part to his game.Be interesting to see when he gets his chance, after yet ANOTHER International Break ! Andrew James 22 Posted 04/09/2025 at 21:05:29 Alex Parr,I'd have no objection to that. Fellaini was a clumsy looking player but had really good close control, liked a tackle, brilliant in the air, and could play anywhere. He made a big mistake in going to Man Utd and becoming the latest in a long line of scapegoats but, that said, he didn't really suit how Roberto wanted to play.I think we have missed that type of player and hope Merlin can be just that. Raymond Fox 23 Posted 04/09/2025 at 22:15:42 I got a laugh out of that one, Eric.Röhl looks a likely lad… let's hope he is. 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