By Martin Graham
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has shifted from the margins at Chelsea to becoming a central figure in Everton’s emerging project. The 27-year-old heads back to his previous home ground this weekend with a side buoyed by four wins in five league outings, in contrast to Chelsea’s growing frustration during a four-match winless run across all competitions.
Since David Moyes arrived in January, no top-flight club has collected more victories away from home. That turnaround has strengthened optimism that Everton can overtake fifth-placed Chelsea in the push for a long-awaited return to European competition.
Dewsbury-Hall’s progress has even sparked discussion about whether he might edge into England’s World Cup plans. Just one year ago, Enzo Maresca admitted the midfielder was battling for minutes in London, despite having been Leicester’s standout performer during their Championship title campaign.
At the time, Dewsbury-Hall found himself unused in league matches against Tottenham and Brentford and left out entirely for a visit to Everton. Instead, he was selected for a long, freezing journey to Kazakhstan for a low-stakes Conference League match, a stark reminder of his place in the pecking order.
Yet he maintained high standards and featured in Chelsea’s Conference League and Club World Cup final triumphs, performances that highlighted his professionalism as he prepared for an eventual move elsewhere.
Everton’s vision and his growing influence
Everton’s recruitment team and Moyes – who had previously attempted to bring him to West Ham – were impressed by both his attitude and versatility, making him their priority signing in the summer window.
Only a one-match suspension has kept him out of the league line-up this season. Dewsbury-Hall says leaving Chelsea required a “special” opportunity, and he saw Everton’s new era, including their move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium and American ownership, as a chance he could not refuse.
The club secured him for an initial £24m plus £3m in future payments, and he was determined from his first pre-season appearance to demonstrate his commitment, even remarking that he had “scratches” after the Roma match, a symbol of his desire to compete.
Off the pitch, he has settled comfortably in his new surroundings. He regularly plays snooker around Liverpool, enjoys golf and musical theatre with his partner, is pursuing a sporting directorship qualification, and frequently volunteers for community projects. His positive nature has helped him connect quickly with teammates, and some already see him as a possible future captain.
His closest link inside the squad is with Jack Grealish, whom he knew through shared connections. Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman has praised Dewsbury-Hall’s consistency, vision, and stamina, noting that he offers balance with his left foot and delivers the same level of influence regardless of where he is deployed.
Inside Goodison, his partnership with Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye has earned playful comparisons to the club’s historic “Holy Trinity” midfield, previously reserved for Kendall, Ball, and Harvey.
Why Chelsea decided to let him leave
Although he now plays predominantly as a number 10, Dewsbury-Hall has been equally willing to take on deeper responsibilities when needed. At Chelsea, opportunities in his preferred area of the pitch were limited. Cole Palmer dominated the central attacking role, while Enzo Fernandez also favored advanced positions.
New arrivals Joao Pedro and Estevao Willian added further congestion, leaving Dewsbury-Hall little space to break through. As a result, he made just a single Premier League start last season, spending most of his time in cup competitions and European group matches as part of what was widely described as the club’s “B team.”
A growing England case
Although the Republic of Ireland has approached him due to family ties – with Everton captain Seamus Coleman also discussing the idea – Dewsbury-Hall maintains that representing England is his ambition. He said he respects Ireland’s interest but wants to give himself the best chance to fulfill that lifelong goal.
His numbers this season underscore that confidence. He is level with Ndiaye as Everton’s top Premier League scorer with four goals, matching his total from his previous 62 appearances across Leicester, Chelsea, and Everton. He also has two assists and sits alongside Grealish and Ndiaye as the club’s leader in goal contributions.
Only Grealish has created more chances and won possession more frequently in advanced areas. Across the league, Dewsbury-Hall has surpassed England’s recent number 10 options – including Rogers, Foden, Bellingham, Gibbs-White and Palmer – in chances made, recoveries, and tackles.
While Palmer and Bellingham have missed time with injuries, only Foden has more goals (six), and only Rogers has more assists (three). Osman believes Gareth Southgate will already be paying attention, praising Dewsbury-Hall’s ability to excel in multiple roles – a quality often crucial in tournament squads.
