Our writers' Everton review and awards for the 2025-26 season | OneFootball

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Everton's dismal end to the season is the overriding emotion right now, but it wasn't all bad throughout the campaign. Our writers have picked out their highs and lows from the 2025-26 season.

Player of the Season

Michael Kenrick: Tyrique George - I know we’re all meant to pick James Garner, but I’m sorry – every time this kid got a few minutes from miserable Moyes, he had only one thing uppermost on his mind: how can I score or make a goal? That’s what I thought football is meant to be about.

Patric Ridge: James Garner - There’s probably three choices, here. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has largely been excellent, even if the fatigue seems to have caught up with him in recent weeks. Jordan Pickford has pulled off some unbelievable stops, but this award has to go to James Garner.  He has been superb all campaign long, whether playing in the middle or at right-back, and he has gone from arguably fighting for his place in the team to now being the first name in it.

Harry Diamond: James Garner - A real Swiss Army Knife of a midfielder who has come on leaps and bounds this season. The numbers back up the development that we’ve all watched, and his England debut was richly deserved. It feels as if Garner will look even better around better players, so Everton need to get to work.

Calum Jones: James Garner - Performing at a world class standard for the majority of the season, absolute standout in midfield and extremely glad we have him tied down to a long-term deal! Am I surprised he didn’t get into the England squad, a little. Can see him captaining the Blues one day!

Goal of the Season

MK: Iliman Ndiaye - While Ndiaye’s jinking runs sometimes flatter to deceive in terms of clinical end product, his moments of individual brilliance provided the brightest visual highlights of an otherwise dull attacking season. His solo strikes, especially the one at Sunderland, full of quick feet and trickery, easily take this spot – just there weren’t anywhere near enough of them.

PR: Iliman Ndiaye - Iliman Ndiaye’s spellbinding run and finish against Sunderland back in November gets the nod here for me. Ndiaye took it in on the touchline, drove around a glut of defenders and then curled a sumptuous finish into the left-hand corner. Exquisite. If only he had kept up that kind of form in the run-in.

HD: Iliman Ndiaye - It’s difficult to look past Ndiaye’s effort at Sunderland, a goal that no other player in the squad would be capable of.

CJ: Iliman Ndiaye - For personal skill and flair, Iliman Ndiaye vs Sunderland for me! Outstanding dribble and a top-class finish. Simply an outstanding goal, we should be trying to keep our hands on the Senegalese attacker for as much time as we possibly can!

Best Moment

MK: First Goal at Bramley-Moore Dock - A massive milestone for the club as they transition into a new era under The Friedkin Group (TFG). Amid a season of sterile away days and frustrating dropped points, the emotional release and historic weight of the first goal at the new stadium stood head and shoulders above any fleeting tactical victory.

PR: Chelsea win - Potentially cheating a bit here in describing an entire game as a “moment”, but that 3-0 win over Chelsea — which could end up being Everton’s last victory of the season — was fantastic. Everything about the day was brilliant. It’s ridiculous that it hasn’t been built on. Honourable mentions: Ndiaye’s opener against Brighton in the first game at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Jack Grealish’s last-gasp winner against Crystal Palace and that gritty 1-0 win, when down to 10 men, at Old Trafford.

HD: Chelsea win - It proved to be something of a false dawn as European hopes faded fast, but the 3-0 win over Chelsea was a memorable performance and occasion. Everton need more of those nights next season.

CJ: Jack Grealish vs Palace - I think Jack Grealish’s late goal against Crystal Palace at Hill Dickinson Stadium summed up Everton really! A scrappy finish by a fan favourite in the dying moments of the game. Fantastic night, and the noise within that ground, wow! What about that 10-men win over Manchester United, think that deserves a mention too!

Best Signing

MK: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (with caveats) - Brought in to provide a creative spark, Dewsbury-Hall provided significant goal contributions early on and clearly gave the midfield an energetic lift. However, any praise is heavily tempered by the fact that Moyes flogged him to death, leaving him looking completely out of ideas and exhausted by the final few weeks of the campaign.PR: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - Had Grealish stayed fit all season, then this choice might have been harder. But, he didn’t, so it’s an easy pick (which perhaps says something about Everton’s recruitment last summer, too). Dewsbury-Hall has clearly been the best of the bunch. He has scored 8 goals, outperforming his 4.3 xG, and provided 4 assists in 30 Premier League appearances this season

HD: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - I liked the signing of Dewsbury-Hall when it was announced, and it proved to be the case. The 27-year-old raised the level of the XI and fitted effortlessly into the Everton side. Sadly, he was run into the ground across the run-in.

CJ: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Played a huge role in high turnovers this season, whilst providing plenty of goals and assists. Hope to see him as a part of the midfield for a long time!

Biggest Disappointment

MK: The Shocking Capitulation for Séamus Coleman’s Farewell - The absolute nadir of the final run-in was against Sunderland and Moyes’s *"absolutely shameful exhibition of incompetence for Coleman's farewell."* To drop points so limply in a game meant to honour a club legend — while actively coughing up a potential European spot — epitomised the manager’s total lack of ambition and inability to utilise the players in his squad properly.PR: Tyler Dibling - Plenty of fans may point to Thierno Barry here, but given he has scored 8 goals, then despite all the other issues we have seen with the striker, I’ll let him off the hook. It’s not a bad return, but improvement is needed if he stays. There is, of course, the fact that the last six games have been a huge disappointment, and has cast a dark cloud over the season. But unfortunately, this goes to Tyler Dibling. It’s not (mostly) his fault; he hasn’t been given enough minutes. When he did play earlier in the season, he didn’t really offer much, barring decent performances at Burnley and Nottingham Forest over Christmas. I do question the wisdom of spending £35m on such a young player last summer, but he is here now, and he must get more time to show what he can do, and he must take his chance when it comes.

HD: Sunderland shambles - If anything summed up the wretched run-in, it was this. A shambolic defensive performance that ended hopes of European football. Sunderland are now celebrating Europa League football, while Everton are left to wonder what might have been. It could, and should, have been different.

CJ: Tyler Dibling - An expensive signing (£40m) that has only played 14 times in the league. Hope he gets some game time next season. He’s young, has time to prove himself.

Ideal summer signing

MK: Tyrique George - I want players like him. Young, dynamic front-foot, always wanting to go for goal.

PR: Andoni Iraola - Going to cheat here a bit, too. Moyes has done a very solid job and I am not against keeping him, but Andoni Iraola is available. And still, as I understand it, open to speaking to Everton should he be approached. Can Everton afford to let the possibility of hiring a potentially elite coach pass them by? Iraola is not perfect, but he seems to align more with what the club want in the long term.  But regardless of who the manager is, Everton need signings, and the top priority should be a right-back. Celta Vigo’s Oscar Mingueza is available on a free transfer, and brings the blend of experience and attacking quality that Everton need.

HD: Harry Wilson - I’ll try and keep this realistic, and Wilson seems a tap-in. A Premier League ready talent to solve a problem position, with North West roots, coming off his best-ever season, and available for nothing. It’s almost too obvious.

CJ: Ivan Toney - Think it’s obvious we need a proper number 9. Someone who can score consistently in the Premier League. Therefore I would go for either Liam Delap, or perhaps Ivan Toney, who would be a lot more expensive. If the funds are there, we might as well have some ambition!

Reader Comments (21)

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Kevin Naylor 1 Posted 25/05/2026 at 12:26:58

Biggest disappointment by far is David Moyes. Also how we actually thought he would be different from his first stint only to find out he hasn't changed one iota in fact if anything he's got worse. Fool me twice and all that.

Iraola yes. I'd also look at Sebastian Hoenes at Stuttgart or Ole Werner at Leipzig. No to the other signings.

It's just an easy excuse of picking premier league ready players. How about this 'newly formed' recruitment team earn there moneys worth and graft by using the supposed data and analytics they have to hand and go and find the next Thiago at Brentford or the next Rayan at Bournemouth globally.

Look beyond the Premier league

People at this club want an easu number. Been that way for decades.

Mick O\\\'Malley 3 Posted 25/05/2026 at 12:28:44

I know any moments of quality and grit have been very fleeting from Thierno Barry this season om surprised that his finish against Villa away never got a mention, it was a really tidy finish, the finish against Forest for his first goal for the club and his first against City have been other goals worth mentioning, bit the lad has been a big disappointment, I've backed him and have been willing him to improve but he doesn't look up to the fight, I think he's found the physicality of the league to much for him and he then seems to go into his shell, as I said he's scored a couple of really tidy goals but he's also given us many comedy moments as well, mind you he's not alone there

Tony Heron 4 Posted 25/05/2026 at 13:13:42

Re Barry I've never seen a player so poor for challenging a ball in the air, and that includes at amateur level. Given his height this should be his greatest asset. I often wonder just what goes on at Finch Farm.

John Davies 5 Posted 25/05/2026 at 14:48:10

Kevin at #1 nails it spot on.

Joe McMahon 6 Posted 25/05/2026 at 15:51:03

Kevin@1, Exactly this.

RE the following players - Nathan Patterson, Adam Aznou, Tyrique George, Merlin Rohl, Harrison Armstrong and Tyler Dibling. There may well be hope here for them, but we really need a different type of manager for them to improve/evolve their development, or to leave Everton. Moyes and his coaching team are holding them back.

David Moyes and his team are Joe Kinnear, and Sean Dyche. Although the latter has won at Anfield with Burnley and Forrest.

Mike Gaynes 7 Posted 25/05/2026 at 17:31:25

Given my visceral hatred for the Manure, the best moment of the season for me was winning at OT with 10 after Gana slapped Keane. I'll remember that for the rest of my next life too.

Mark Ryan 8 Posted 25/05/2026 at 17:55:57

What Kevin said @ 1

Phil Roberts 9 Posted 25/05/2026 at 19:45:02

Sorry Michael - I want a team of winners.

Tyrique George is another Duncan MacKenzie. Got you excited and won nothing. The kid didn't score and the kid didn't assist in a goal. All he did was ever think about scoring - but he never did. How can he be player of the season.

David West 10 Posted 25/05/2026 at 21:59:49

Dibbling for biggest disappointment after the long chase to get him, big fee and huge expectations, offering nothing really.

Barry an honorable mention, because 8 goals in his first season in PL isn't as shocking as his body language or lack of desire for someone who's capable of more.

Signing obviously KDH, who's looked tired lately with no obvious player to swap him for rest of his level.

Incomings.. Love Wilson to come, real pro, whos shown even since he announced he'd leave Fulham, his given everything for them. Forget Tony, break the bank for Thiago from Brentford, get George, get Mingueza, find A CB and replace Gana.

Easy !!!!

Jay Lewis 12 Posted 25/05/2026 at 22:04:37

Iraola is not gonna come to Everton sorry lads

Frankie McGrath 13 Posted 25/05/2026 at 22:06:34

Garner has been brilliant. Pickford we take for granted too much but he is always excellent. KDH brilliant signing, just brilliant. Tailed off after playing most games for 90 mins (lack of squad depth & giving youngsters a chance). Tyrique George - I’m with MK, I think he has the right mentality and could be a real star, run at them, don’t be scared, have a crack, always pushing and fast, and my goodness Everton need speed. UTFT

Sean Kearns 14 Posted 26/05/2026 at 02:51:47

Tyrique George looks like our best attacker and has rode the bench ALL SEASON!! Same for Alcaraz!.., why has Barry been coming on all season instead of Alcaraz? Moyes is being told to play Beto and Barry by the ownership (to keep their values up) and I believe this is why they won’t sack Moyes. Because they can pick the team and Davie will just accept the paycheck and do as the owners want…. A serious manager like Glasner or Ireola or Howe would tell them to kindly fuck off as they would want to pick the team themselves. No way Moyes plays Barry and Beto all season under his own accord, I just can’t believe it…. Strap in fellas. TFG is just here to make a few quid (which finishing around mid table guarantees them)…. If we bench Barry for good then we wipe around 10 million off his value and we can’t have that now can we?!… the game’s gone…. The clubs owners don’t give a rats ass about us. The owners care about Barry’s resale value more than our entertainment or happiness.. but if I am wrong and Moyes played Beto/Barry under his own accord, then that is a sackable offense in itself surely! 🤔 the whole thing just doesn’t add up, it’s strange. Dan Friedkin can you kindly please get rid of David Moyes, sell Barry asap (yes, even for a loss), and improve our defence. Thank you in advance kind sir…. Not a single person who supports Everton wants to see Barry pull on the blue jersey ever ever ever again! The boy is an embarrassment to our club and our image. He looks disinterested and is absolute DOGSHIT!! Thierno Barry, my bro, if by some chance you happen to read this comment then please leave our club right now. You are the worst player I have ever seen play for Everton. Thank you

Jim Bennings 15 Posted 26/05/2026 at 07:16:24

Best moment for me was the 10 man win at Old Trafford, probably the game that made me believe for a fleeting few days we could have a good season, but naturally in true Everton fashion it didn't last.

There were nowhere near enough good moments let's be frankly honest about it.

The biggest disappointments for me were how shockingly bad we were in the first season at our new home, and allowing the shit Shite side to win the first Merseyside derby here, it already feels stained permanently.

We lost more than we won at Hill Dickinson stadium (hate calling it that but hey ho) which is not what I expected and the amount of teams that came here, Wolves, West Ham, Leeds, Brentford, Sunderland (TWICE) Tottenham and Newcastle both won here by 3 clear goals, it was embarrassing at times.

But the biggest let down of all was how we ended this season, that is unrivalled.

Any side that takes 3 points from it's last 7 matches will naturally demand questions asked, even sides that finished high up would have the question posed about what went wrong and what needs righting for next season.

To end up 13th when Sunderland finished 7th is a kick in the nuts, given at HT last week we were above Sunderland with what, 3 halves of football left.

I wonder whether we will actually hear this summer from our hologram owners?

Stu Gre 16 Posted 26/05/2026 at 08:36:25

I'm not sure Dibbling can be as big a disappointment as he didn't get given a fair crack imo, or is that the disappointment that he wasn't picked, even when we were losing at the end of the season?

Sean, I think Barry's value actually goes down £10m every time he plays.

Best moment was the final whistle at Spurs to end this miserable deja vu.

Biggest disappointment was in myself when I fleetingly believed Moyes when he spoke about getting into Europe. 2 wins and a draw from our final 7 games would have done it.

Mike Powell 18 Posted 26/05/2026 at 09:08:43

Best moment the win at OT, the worst the Sunderland performance, gonna take me a while to get over that. Hoping we get rid of all the dead wood and bring in some quality players,please don't go for Delap,he is no better than the donkeys we have already

Dave Abrahams 19 Posted 26/05/2026 at 09:12:06

Frankie (13)I agree with you about James Garner and Tyrique George but Pickford is always excellent ? and KDH is just brilliant? Well this is what this site about —opinions, and makes it a very good website.

Andy Meighan 20 Posted 26/05/2026 at 11:25:15

I wouldn't award none of them anything.

The last 3 months have totally sucked the life out of me, culminating in that atrocious Sunderland defeat, that just pushed me over the edge.

I hate them, I've seen a few interviews with the manager and a few players, and not one of the phoney bastards apologised to the thousands who travelled down to Spurs.

Come to think of it the manager actually thought we played well.

How insulting, I don't think David likes us.