David Moyes had to fight ‘long and hard’ to get one Everton signing done this summer

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Everton managed to bring in no fewer than eight first-team players this summer, in what was an almighty transfer window for the Blues – and one star was fought for strongly by David Moyes.

Everton have spent quietly in years gone by, only parting ways with £40million in the summer of 2024, £32million in 2023, and although they spent £68million in the summer of 2022, they recouped £112million’s worth of players over the course of that season.

This summer, however, with financial freedom due to new ownership, the move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium and a relaxation on FFP restrictions, bigger money was spent on new incomings.

And one of those to come in was Southampton prodigy Tyler Dibling – who journalist Chris Beesley stated David Moyes ‘fought long and hard over’ to bring in.

Everton boss David Moyes battled for months to land Tyler Dibling this summer

Speaking on the Royal Blue podcast, Chris Beesley went into detail on this summer’s transfer incomings.

And he claims that although it was Southampton who sounded the Toffees out to resurrect a deal, it was Moyes’ initial framework in bringing the teenager to Merseyside that landed the £42million Dibling deal.

Beesley said: “My understanding it was Southampton who went back to Everton to re-initiate those talks again.

“It was Southampton who came back to Everton.

“So maybe on Everton, I understand that’s one that David Moyes fought long and hard over, as far as I know.”

Although Dibling hasn’t played much yet due to Iliman Ndiaye’s brilliance so far this season, he’ll likely play a key role for the club whilst the Africa Cup of Nations is on.

Tyler Dibling will get a run in Everton’s team over the festive period

The continental tournament stretches across the best part of a month through the second half of December and the first half of January.

As a result, if Senegal make the final, Ndiaye will miss vital fixtures against bottom-half sides such as Burnley, Nottingham Forest, Brentford and Wolves.

They will be vital games to put any minuscule doubts of a relegation battle to bed, whilst also pushing Everton towards the top half of the table.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
8	LiverpoolLiverpool	11	6	0	5	18	17	1	18
9	BournemouthBournemouth	11	5	3	3	17	18	-1	18
10	Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace	11	4	5	2	14	9	5	17
11	BrightonBrighton	11	4	4	3	17	15	2	16
12	BrentfordBrentford	11	5	1	5	17	17	0	16
13	EvertonEverton	11	4	3	4	12	13	-1	15
14	NewcastleNewcastle	11	3	3	5	11	14	-3	12
15	FulhamFulham	11	3	2	6	12	16	-4	11
16	LeedsLeeds	11	3	2	6	10	20	-10	11
17	BurnleyBurnley	11	3	1	7	14	22	-8	10

Dibling will have featured against all of those teams except Burnley last season for Southampton, and he proved in his minutes for the Saints that he could make an impact at that level.

Former Toffees star Theo Walcott even compared Dibling to Gareth Bale, who Walcott himself played alongside at Southampton.

A strong run of form there could give Moyes a selection headache, especially if Ndiaye comes back leggy from AFCON – though an early exit for Senegal could equally curtail his minutes in the first-team.