Everton have secured the services of 19-year-old winger Tyler Dibling from Southampton, in a deal reported to be worth around £42 million. The transfer, finalised this month, sees Dibling sign a four-year contract with the Merseyside club.
Everton’s board and management regard Dibling as one of English football’s brightest young talents. The deal includes an initial payment believed to be approximately £35 million, with add-ons raising the potential total to around £42 million.
It is also reported that Southampton negotiated a sell-on clause—widely believed to be 20%, though other sources suggest it may be lower—giving them a share of any future transfer profit.
The move comes amid Everton’s transformative summer, with the club continuing to build momentum following the opening of their new Hill Dickinson Stadium and an encouraging 2–0 victory over Brighton. Tyler Dibling, donning the number 20 shirt, becomes the club’s eighth signing of the window, joining a squad that includes the likes of Jack Grealish and Thierno Barry.
Dibling, who hails from Exeter, began his youth career at Axminster Town AFC before joining Southampton’s academy in 2012. After a brief stint at Chelsea in 2022, he returned to Southampton later that year and made his competitive debut at age 17. Last season, he featured in 33 Premier League matches for the Saints, scoring two goals.
Despite Southampton’s poor season that saw them relegated from the Premier League, Dibling remained a standout performer, earning praise for his daring dribbling and technical flair. Everton fans and pundits have already drawn comparisons between Dibling’s playing style and that of Jack Grealish—his control, movement, and ability to draw fouls signalling a creative dynamo.
Reflecting on his move, Dibling expressed excitement and genuine enthusiasm about the opportunity ahead. “I think it’s the perfect match because of where the club is right now. Obviously with the new stadium, the fans here are unreal and it has a family feel to it,” he said. “I’ve never been so excited to play football… I think I’ve come to Everton at the perfect time and hopefully I can be here for many years.”
Everton manager David Moyes responded warmly to the signing: “We are really pleased to bring Tyler to Everton Football Club. He is a talented young English player with lots of potential,” he said, adding, “Tyler adds to our attacking options and we will support him in his future development. We are eager to build a team that Evertonians can enjoy watching and be proud of, and Tyler can help us achieve that.”
The transfer saga followed weeks of negotiation: Everton saw earlier bids of £27 million and £35 million rejected by Southampton before settling on the final package. Other Premier League clubs like Tottenham were reportedly interested, though no formal offers were made.
Upon completion, Dibling also conveyed a classy farewell to Southampton supporters, offering thanks and closure as he embarks on this new chapter.