Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's Impact at Everton Amid Chelsea Struggles
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has transitioned from a marginal player at Chelsea to a pivotal figure in Everton's rebuilding efforts.
The 27-year-old will return to Stamford Bridge with Everton on Saturday, as his team enjoys a successful run of four victories in their last five Premier League matches, while Chelsea faces pressure, remaining winless in their last four encounters across all competitions.
Since David Moyes took the reins at Everton in January, no Premier League team has won more away games, raising hopes that Everton could surpass fifth-placed Chelsea in their pursuit of European qualification for the first time since 2018.
Could Dewsbury-Hall even secure a spot in England's World Cup squad?
This time last season, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca acknowledged that Dewsbury-Hall was struggling to find his footing in a limited role at the club, despite having earned player of the season honors under his guidance during Leicester City's promotion-winning campaign in the Championship the previous year.
At that point, Dewsbury-Hall was an unused substitute against Tottenham and Brentford and was not even included in the squad for a match against Everton. Instead, he was sent on a 7,000-mile round trip to Astana, Kazakhstan, for a meaningless Conference League group stage match in sub-zero temperatures.
Remarkably, Dewsbury-Hall overcame any disappointment to contribute to Chelsea's victories in the Conference League and Club World Cup finals, showcasing his professionalism even as he anticipated a departure.
This resilience was noted by Everton's scouting team, which had received positive reports about Dewsbury-Hall, prompting Moyes—who had attempted to sign him for West Ham months earlier—to make him a primary target during the summer transfer window.
Dewsbury-Hall has started every league match this season except one, due to suspension from accumulating five yellow cards.
"For me to leave my old club, Chelsea, it had to be for something special—a project I really believed in," Dewsbury-Hall stated after joining Everton.
While he had other options and was open to remaining at Chelsea, he felt the opportunity to play for Everton under their new American ownership at the Hill Dickinson Stadium was too appealing to pass up.
The Toffees secured their target for an initial £24 million, plus £3 million in potential add-ons, on a five-year contract agreed upon in the summer.
Following his first pre-season match against Roma, Dewsbury-Hall expressed to BBC Radio Merseyside that he had "scratches" and was eager to demonstrate his commitment to fight for his new fans.
In addition to his football commitments, Dewsbury-Hall is known for his approachable nature and is often seen in Liverpool enjoying his second favorite sport, snooker, as a way to unwind.
He also enjoys golf and musical theatre, thanks to his partner, and is pursuing a sporting directorship course through the Professional Footballers' Association. He is among those who volunteer for charity initiatives within the Everton community.
Similar to his experiences at Chelsea and Leicester, Dewsbury-Hall is well-liked in the dressing room, with some already suggesting he could be a future captain.
He has formed a strong connection with Manchester City loanee Jack Grealish, whom he knew through mutual friends in football.
Former Everton captain Leon Osman remarked to BBC Sport: "His current form is fantastic. He has been versatile in midfield, and regardless of his position, his output remains consistent. His left foot adds significant balance to the team, and his passing range and vision are exceptional. However, what truly distinguishes him is his energy and the distance he covers on the pitch."
Inside the club, the attacking midfield trio of Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish, and Iliman Ndiaye has been humorously dubbed the new "Holy Trinity," a title once reserved for the legendary trio of Howard Kendall, Alan Ball, and Colin Harvey from the 1960s and 70s.
Dewsbury-Hall primarily plays in his preferred number 10 role at Everton but has willingly adapted to deeper positions when injuries or suspensions have necessitated it.
At Chelsea, however, he faced stiff competition from star attacker Cole Palmer for that role, while British transfer-record signing Enzo Fernandez—acquired for £107 million—also favors an attacking midfield position.
With the arrival of Brazilian talents Joao Pedro and Estevao Willian, both capable of playing in similar roles, Dewsbury-Hall found it challenging to thrive, starting only one Premier League match last season and often featuring in cup competitions and the Conference League.
In light of his absence from the England squad, the Republic of Ireland has reached out to Dewsbury-Hall due to his family heritage, with Everton captain Seamus Coleman also inquiring about a potential switch.
"I see myself as English and am determined to pursue my dream of playing for England," Dewsbury-Hall shared with Everton's club channels. "I want to be clear about my aspirations, as I respect the Irish people and their fans. I am committed to giving myself a chance to play for England, which has been a lifelong dream. I am playing for a significant club that is on the rise, and I still believe I can achieve this goal."
His confidence is supported by his performance statistics. Dewsbury-Hall is currently one of Everton's joint-leading Premier League scorers this season, with four goals—matching his total from his previous 62 appearances for Leicester, Chelsea, and Everton combined.
His two assists place him at the top for goal involvements alongside Ndiaye and Grealish, with only Grealish having created more chances and won possession more frequently in the final third for Everton this season.
Dewsbury-Hall has outperformed several of England's recently utilized number 10s—including Morgan Rogers, Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Palmer—in terms of created chances, possession won, and tackles made this season.
While Palmer and Bellingham have faced injuries, only Foden has netted more goals (six), and only Rogers has provided more assists (three) than Dewsbury-Hall.
Osman noted, "His recent performances will have certainly caught the attention of Thomas Tuchel. James Garner and Grealish are also vying for a spot in the England team, but Dewsbury-Hall's performances over the past few weeks have likely made him the standout candidate. When considering tournament football, you have a player capable of excelling in multiple roles."
Additional reporting by Matthew Hobbs.