Everton sign Southampton's Dibling in £40m deal

Tyler Dibling made 33 appearances for Southampton in the Premier League during the 2024-25 season

Everton have signed Tyler Dibling from Southampton in a deal worth an initial £35m plus £5m in add-ons.

The 19-year-old midfielder has agreed terms on a four-year contract until June 2029.

Dibling becomes Everton manager David Moyes' eighth signing of the summer transfer window.

"I think it's the perfect match because of where the club is right now," the England Under-21 international told Everton's website.

"Obviously with the new stadium, the fans here are unreal, and it has a family feel to it. I think it was the perfect fit and was a no-brainer to join."

Dibling, who has been capped twice by England Under-21s, made his Southampton debut as a 17-year-old in August 2023.

He went on to make 44 appearances in total for the Saints, scoring four goals, playing predominantly as a left-footed winger on the right flank or as an attacking midfielder.

Dibling, who has taken the number 20 shirt, said the chance to play under Moyes was a major part in his decision join the Merseyside club.

"I think the manager is perfect for me," he added.

"Obviously he's helped so many players before who were in my position. I've spoken to him and I know he's going to be good for me.

"My aim for this season is just to play as many games as I can and to help the team as much as I can with goals and assists. As a team, hopefully we can have a good season and see where it goes."

Moyes said Dibling is a "talented young English player" with "lots of potential".

"Tyler adds to our attacking options and we will support him in his future development," he added.

"We are eager to build a team that Evertonians can enjoy watching and be proud of, and Tyler can help us achieve that."

Former Southampton and Everton winger Theo Walcott said it was a "good deal" for Everton.

"I think the fact they are in the new stadium, he will thrive there. I'll be intrigued to see where he fits in because he will want to start," Walcott told the Monday Night Club.

"When you play for Everton you have to run. At times, in a very poor Southampton team he was working his socks off, but it's a different kind of pressure, playing for Everton Football Club.

"I do hope it goes well for him. The new stadium, new players and personnel, it fits the bill for me, it's a really good move."

Is Dibling a bargain or overhyped? - Analysis

BBC Sport's Matt Hobbs

Are Dibling and Everton the perfect match?

Such was his impact for Southampton during the first half of his debut Premier League season, he was hailed as a generational talent and linked with a £100m move to top-six clubs.

Fast forward seven months and the 19-year-old has been the subject of multiple rejected bids, before finally being signed by Everton for significantly less.

So are the Toffees getting a bargain for a young player with a high ceiling, or was Dibling overhyped in the early stages of a campaign which produced just two Premier League goals and no assists?

Firstly, the teenage talent only has two years left on his current contract, meaning the astronomical price tag mentioned in January has subsequently reduced.

Dibling, who made his Premier League debut under former Southampton boss Russell Martin in August last year, also suffered from a drop-off in form in the second half of 2024-25.

This can be partly attributed to the sacking of Martin in December and the subsequent shift to an uber-defensive approach under Ivan Juric and then Simon Rusk - a style of play simply not suited to Dibling's attacking instincts.

But there is no doubt he is a signing based predominantly on potential. Martin, himself, admitted the England Under-21 international "needs the right kind of style and environment to thrive".