Everton fans watched Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in action for the first time yesterday since he completed his move from Chelsea.
The midfielder became Everton’s fifth signing of the summer earlier in the week, arriving in a deal worth just under £30 million.
David Moyes had been on the lookout for a new midfielder, following the departures of Abdoulaye Doucoure and Orel Mangala.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall had been on Everton’s radar for quite some time, with interest stretching back to previous windows.
But the time was finally right for Everton to swoop, and it is now hoped that Dewsbury-Hall can make an immediate impact.
Everton fans praised Dewsbury-Hall after his debut against AS Roma on Saturday, which saw the ace provide four key passes and create two big chances in the number 10 role.
Potentially this could be a very shrewd bit of business from Everton, and the player’s post-match interview from yesterday really does make for great listening.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall makes promise to Everton fans after debut vs AS Roma
Dewsbury-Hall played as a number 10 yesterday, which may not bode well for Carlos Alcaraz, but he can operate in various midfield roles.
That versatility will come in handy for Moyes, as the Scot seeks to find effective combinations
Dewsbury-Hall arrives at Everton with a real determination about him, after struggling to start regularly for Chelsea last season.
And one gets the feeling that he will relish this opportunity with Everton – and his comments yesterday after his debut strongly suggest that.
Dewsbury-Hall said (via Everton’s official website): “Everyone sees it, so it’s a really nice feeling and I need to repay that now. They’ve put their faith in me, and I need to show them why they’re giving me the nice reception. So, you’ll have seen little glimpses from me today, first minutes, but there’s way more to come.
“I felt as good as I can be at this point. It’s obviously my first minutes of this season for any club, so I felt strong. I felt good, but yes, I’m glad to get 60 (minutes) in the legs and I feel really good now.”
Dewsbury-Hall also spoke of the size of Everton, and admitted the Toffees were a club he’d always appreciate seeing on Match of the Day.
“I’ve grown up since I was a kid watching Match of the Day and you watch Everton every week on it playing and hearing the song before the lads go out, it’s iconic,” he added. “It’s massive, I don’t care what anyone says, it’s a massive club.”
“I am humbled to be here and I’ll never take that for granted, so every time I step on the pitch, you’re going to get the best version of me, whatever that is, whether it’s on the ball or off the ball, I’m just going to do whatever I can to help the team.”
Dewsbury-Hall has Everton fan favourite potential
Fans have a good feeling about his signing, and the comments from Dewsbury-Hall after yesterday’s game make for great reading.
You get the sense that he genuinely does see this as a great opportunity and is humbled to play for Everton. He clearly absolutely gets what Everton is all about, and fully grasps the size of the club he’s just joined.
Talking about Z Cars and watching Everton on Match of the Day, he is already endearing himself to his new fanbase and hopefully he can deliver plenty of great performances during his time here.
Dewsbury-Hall was branded underrated by Chelsea fans just before his move to Everton was confirmed, and he is known for being someone who works very hard in midfield.
Quite possibly, he is someone who could become a fan favourite very quickly in these parts.
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