Tyler Dibling was supposed to be Everton's next big thing. When Southampton slapped a £100m price tag on him amid transfer speculation, the then-teenager laughed it off with teammates. But the joke masked a serious truth: Dibling was considered a generational talent destined for greatness.

Last season, even as Southampton spiraled toward relegation, Dibling's electrifying performances made him the talk of the Premier League. His socks-down, dribbling style drew comparisons to Jack Grealish. Clubs like Tottenham and RB Leipzig circled. But it was Everton who landed him in a £40m deal — one of the biggest in club history.

Manager David Moyes, back for his second spell at Goodison Park, saw Dibling as the centerpiece of a new era at the magnificent Hill Dickinson Stadium. Former Southampton boss Russell Martin was even more emphatic: "He's the most talented player I've ever worked with."

Fast forward to today, and the story has taken an unexpected turn. The 20-year-old has started just four Premier League games all season, logging only 513 minutes of action. Even when Grealish suffered a season-ending foot injury — an opportunity tailor-made for a player of Dibling's style — he was overlooked. Dwight McNeil, whom Everton nearly sold to Crystal Palace, has been chosen ahead of him instead.

So what happened to Everton's £40m man?

The truth is, Dibling's disappearance from the first team is less about talent and more about timing. He's in a transitional season, finding his feet at a club in flux. But those close to him insist the future remains bright — not just at club level, but internationally as well.

FA sources reveal that England Under-21 coach Lee Carsley rates Dibling exceptionally highly. He's been a regular in Carsley's setup as they aim to defend their European Championship title, with his attitude and ability earning widespread admiration. In the 2025-26 campaign alone, he's started three Under-21 matches and featured in six total.

For now, Dibling's path at Everton may be clouded, but the potential is still there — waiting for the right moment to shine again. For a player once valued at £100m, patience might be the hardest skill to master. But if his trajectory is anything like his talent suggests, it's only a matter of time before the football world remembers his name.