Tim Iroegbunam's big run-in

Tim Iroegbunam faces a big couple of months.

In the summer, Iroegbunam will enter the last 12 months of his Everton contract.

Signed in 2024 in a “convenient” move from Aston Villa, with Lewis Dobbin moved the other way in a deal that was technically separate, much wasn’t really expected of Iroegbunam.

He was a younger player who Villa could shift off the books to help ease their Profit and Sustainability (PSR) concerns, allowing Everton to do the same with Dobbin.

Yet almost two years on, it would be fair to say Everton have got the better of the trade.

While Dobbin has had spells on loan in the Championship at West Brom, Norwich City and now Preston North End, Iroegbunam has established himself as a regular member of Everton’s matchday squad.

He was impressive in spells last season, albeit his campaign was derailed by injury, but this term, under David Moyes’ tutelage, he has certainly come on.

Iroegbunam has made 23 Premier League appearances this season, providing two assists. He is yet to score a goal for Everton, but as a predominantly ball-winning midfielder, perhaps we should not expect too much in that regard just yet.

It can easily be forgotten that Iroegbunam is only 22. He is still very much on the younger end of the spectrum, and across his entire career, he has only made 20 top-flight starts. His overall tally of Premier League appearances stands at 53, for a total playing time of 1,921 minutes.

To put that into perspective, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall — who missed a good chunk of this campaign due to injury — has already featured for 2,013 minutes in the Premier League in 2025-26 alone.

Iroegbunam, then, has a long way to go. He is still developing, but there is definitely a lot to like about him.

Physically, he is a powerful runner and he has the ability to carry teams up the pitch with his dribbling. He is no stranger to a tackle (in fact, only Tottenham’s Joao Palhinha averages more tackles per 90 in the Premier League this season than Iroegbunam’s 4.14), while he ranks sixth in the competition for duels won per 90 (6.34).

So, Iroegbunam is not afraid to get stuck in, and he often comes out on top in such instances.

Defensively, he has at times been let down by his positional discipline — this was particularly evident in his early days at Everton, but this season, he has gradually improved.

He was poor in a 4-1 loss to Newcastle United in November, and fairly taken off at half-time, but then he was superb at Bournemouth a few days later, proving what he can do as a deep-lying defensive midfielder in a hard-fought 1-0 win.

Iroegbunam’s consistency is definitely an area for him to work on. Moyes clearly values him as a squad option, but if he is going to be dropped into games as a substitute, he needs to ensure he is hitting a base level of performance every time.

But then we roll back around to the fact that he is only 22, and he only has 20 Premier League starts under his belt.

He also has some excellent, in-form players ahead of him: Idrissa Gueye and James Garner are Moyes’ preferred central pairing, with Dewsbury-Hall ahead of them.

With that trio hopefully retaining their fitness in the run-in, that would leave Iroegbunam competing with Merlin Rohl, Harrison Armstrong and even Carlos Alcaraz for those central positions.

There is speculation Everton will be in the market for another midfielder this summer, and it means this is a big couple of months for Iroegbunam.

Armstrong is highly rated by Moyes and should be used in central midfield, which is his best position. Rohl’s loan deal will be made permanent in the summer

While Alcaraz’s future is in question, he is more of an attacking midfielder, so Iroegbunam is likely going up against Armstrong, Rohl, Garner, potentially Gueye (should he stay) and possibly a new signing for, realistically, two positions.

Even if Everton qualify for Europe, that would leave the midfield area bloated.

With just a year left to run on his deal, Everton would have to make a call. Sell him, or offer him a new deal. 

There is no right or wrong. If Everton do sell, they would likely turn a tidy profit on a player signed, essentially, as part of an accounting loophole. If they offer him a new contract, it shows they have plenty of faith in him, but it would then mean a decision has to be made on other players in that area of the pitch.

All Iroegbunam can do is continue to show his worth.

He performed well against Arsenal in that cruel 2-0 defeat a few weeks ago, but then was back on the bench against Chelsea, with Garner moving back into midfield as James Tarkowski returned to fitness to take his place in the defence.

Iroegbunam’s passing can be a big frustration, and at times his slackness on the ball results in Everton being caught on the counter. For a manager like Moyes, who values shape and structure, keeping a cool head in such moments is key.

It’s tough for Iroegbunam — he is consistently one of the first subs Moyes calls on, but likewise he is one of the first to be dropped when the strongest XI is available. But these are the cards he has been dealt, and if he wants to really ensure his Everton future, then he just has to show he is learning from his mistakes.

That’s all anyone can ask. And from there, it is on the club to make the call.

 

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