adminSean Dyche Endorses Kalvin Phillips Transfer as Everton’s Summer Overhaul Begins Under David Moyes
Everton’s preparations for the 2025/26 season are beginning to take shape, and one major target has already received a public endorsement from former boss Sean Dyche. Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips, who is expected to leave the Etihad this summer, has emerged as a prime candidate to strengthen the Toffees’ midfield, with David Moyes now at the helm and The Friedkin Group ready to back him in the transfer market.
Everton finished 13th in the Premier League in the 2024/25 season, a campaign that offered both positives and room for clear improvement. With that in mind, Moyes is targeting several additions, and midfield is high on the agenda. Phillips—once a rising star at Leeds United and an England regular—is available, and Everton are keen to offer him a career revival on Merseyside.
Crucially, the 29-year-old has already received glowing praise from Dyche, who tried to sign him in the past. That historic seal of approval only adds further weight to Moyes’ interest.
Dyche’s Praise Highlights Phillips’ Potential
Sean Dyche may no longer be the man in the Everton dugout, but his opinions still carry weight within the football community. The former Burnley and Everton boss has previously spoken about his admiration for Kalvin Phillips, describing him as a player who caught his eye early in his career.
Speaking to Sky Sports back in 2019, Dyche revealed that he pushed hard for Burnley to sign Phillips from Leeds, even though some of his own staff weren’t fully convinced. He said, “I thought he was a very good player then and he’s a very good player now. He’s developed since then and continues to do so, so fair play to him.”
Dyche added: “Your scouts are out there collecting information, they are scurrying around, and sometimes one catches your eye. He was one for me… I thought he would have been a good acquisition for us, but we couldn’t do it. He was out of our price range.”
Those words still resonate today as Everton, now with deeper pockets thanks to new ownership, find themselves in a position to act on the kind of move Dyche once saw as impossible.
Phillips Looking for a Fresh Start
Kalvin Phillips’ career has hit a crossroads. After his £60 million move to Manchester City in 2022, hopes were high that he would develop into a mainstay in Pep Guardiola’s team. However, things did not go according to plan. Limited to sporadic appearances in his first season, he was sent out on loan to West Ham United in 2024 and then to Ipswich Town in early 2025.
Despite making appearances for both clubs, Phillips struggled to recapture the form that once saw him play a pivotal role for Leeds and England. The 2024/25 season has largely been one of frustration, but a permanent move away from the Etihad could provide the midfielder with the consistency and fresh environment he needs to rediscover his best form.
David Moyes, who knows Phillips well from their time together at West Ham, reportedly remains a big admirer. With Everton seeking experienced midfielders to anchor the centre of the park, Phillips ticks several boxes in terms of physicality, experience, and potential upside.
Financial Backing and Transfer Strategy
The Friedkin Group’s arrival at Everton has injected much-needed optimism and financial support. For the first time in years, the club is expected to have a realistic summer war chest—estimated between £50 million and £100 million—to reshape the squad.
Moyes has been granted autonomy to identify key targets, and Phillips has emerged as one of several Manchester City players the Toffees are watching. With Guardiola looking to overhaul his own squad this summer, Everton could benefit significantly.
Jack Grealish, John Stones, and James McAtee are other City names linked to Everton, suggesting a potential exodus that Moyes is hoping to capitalise on. Grealish has struggled with form and fitness, Stones’ role has diminished, and McAtee is attracting attention across Europe after an encouraging season.
With the PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules) constraints easing, Everton are finally in a position to invest sensibly and strengthen the squad without fear of regulatory punishment. Phillips’ availability and reduced market value—now expected to be well below the £60m City paid—make him a viable and potentially shrewd addition.
Midfield Overhaul Essential for Progress
Everton’s midfield lacked dynamism and depth throughout the 2024/25 season. Injuries, inconsistency, and a lack of creative spark meant that games were often lost in the centre of the park. Moyes knows that to elevate Everton from mid-table mediocrity to a team pushing for European contention, reinforcements are necessary.
Phillips’ strengths—ball-winning, tackling, positional awareness, and short passing—make him a solid candidate to play as either a lone holding midfielder or in a double pivot. His leadership and experience at both domestic and international levels could also be invaluable, particularly if other senior players depart this summer.
In addition to Phillips, Everton are reportedly monitoring Tottenham’s Yves Bissouma and Celtic’s Matt O’Riley. Both are strong midfielders in their own right, but Phillips stands out due to his Premier League pedigree and his desire to rebuild his career.
Planning for the New Stadium Era
With Everton’s long-awaited move to Bramley-Moore Dock on the horizon, the club is looking to usher in a new era of competitiveness and stability. Moyes is assembling a squad not just to survive in the Premier League, but to thrive.
Part of that plan involves difficult decisions—letting go of fan favourites or inconsistent performers, and ushering in a new core of players who can deliver results. Kalvin Phillips could be a key piece in that puzzle, especially if he arrives hungry to prove his doubters wrong and return to England contention.
The club’s recruitment team will need to assess his fitness, wage demands, and compatibility with Moyes’ tactical setup. But with positive reports and strong backing from influential voices like Dyche, this looks like a move that has substance as well as style.
Final Thoughts
Kalvin Phillips may no longer be the £60 million golden boy of Elland Road and England stardom, but he remains a player of real quality. If Everton can negotiate the right deal and offer him the platform to relaunch his career, the Toffees could secure a midfielder capable of making a major impact.
As David Moyes gets to work reshaping the squad, Phillips could be one of the smartest signings of the summer—especially now that the finances, timing, and mutual interest are finally aligned.
Godwin Obaje
