Transfer deadline day can be “thrilling for everybody”, according to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, but what unfolded at Everton took him through the same emotional journey as the club’s supporters. Initial optimism gave way to confusion, and by the time the window closed, the midfielder was deeply frustrated—although for different reasons from fans who were questioning the direction being taken under The Friedkin Group.
So what is the atmosphere like within the squad now? It is the natural opening question after a deadline day that left David Moyes with a smaller group than he had beforehand, only one striker and no backup options at either full-back position. The day also saw United States forward Folarin Balogun abandon a £40m move only minutes after the necessary paperwork had been filed. “Honestly, it’s really good,” Dewsbury-Hall says. “It’s definitely different from the mood I’ve noticed outside the club. This season, we have a strong attitude of: ‘We’ll prove people wrong.’” Everton’s displays so far appear to reinforce his argument.
“I’ve seen the responses and the panic, and to be completely honest, some of it irritated me,” Dewsbury-Hall says with characteristic openness. “I understand the frustration because everybody wants more signings and an ideal squad. But there are still 19 players here who hope to take this club forward this season, and that seemed to be overlooked.
“I saw comments suggesting we would be fortunate to avoid relegation. What kind of message does that give the players who are already at the club? I’m not criticising anyone because we understand the disappointment. The deals didn’t happen. But now it’s finished, so we need to stay optimistic, put it behind us and move forward. That is what we’ve been saying in the dressing room. Naturally, we would have liked another couple of additions, but we believe in the players we have, and the situation has given us even greater motivation.”
Moyes has voiced worries about what Everton’s transfer activity might communicate to the squad while he attempts to move the team forward. Has it damaged morale? “No, not particularly,” Dewsbury-Hall replies. “We know the squad is smaller, but it contains some excellent footballers. Our strongest lineup is outstanding and capable of competing at European level.
“I understand that depth matters, but we still have 17 or 18 players operating at a very high standard. The squad was not at this level a couple of years ago—I’m certain of that. Some situations in football are beyond your control, and that is what happened to us. But we soon looked around the dressing room and recognised how many quality players were there. If we approach things properly, we can still achieve something significant.”
Dewsbury-Hall is likely to play a central role in those ambitions. The midfielder has excelled since completing a £28m move from Chelsea last summer, with regular appearances and an expanding role confirming that leaving Stamford Bridge was the right choice. “These are the peak years of my career,” he says. “I couldn’t allow myself to remain stuck for any longer.” The 28-year-old has also become influential away from the pitch. After Séamus Coleman departed this summer, Dewsbury-Hall was selected for a newly formed leadership team designed to help fill the gap left by Everton’s long-serving captain.
“Séamus left an enormous void, so a number of experienced players need to work together, maintain high standards and keep driving the group,” Dewsbury-Hall explains. “It mainly involves the senior figures—[Jordan] Pickford, Tarky [James Tarkowski, the new captain], Jimmy [James] Garner and me. We’re players who have spent years in the Premier League or who feel firmly established at Everton.
“Being chosen after only one season is pleasing, but this is exactly the kind of influence I hoped to have. I’m delighted that my teammates see me as someone who can make a valuable contribution within the dressing room.”
That responsibility can be seen in the support Dewsbury-Hall offers fellow midfielder Harrison Armstrong. The 19-year-old came close to joining Nottingham Forest before the deadline, but a fierce reaction from Everton supporters at Bournemouth persuaded the owners to reverse their decision. “The fans made their opinion very clear, and it obviously had an effect,” Dewsbury-Hall says. “They deserve enormous credit because they were brilliant that day. I know it made Harrison feel appreciated and gave him a lift. He is a confident young man and already commands plenty of respect in the dressing room.
“Whenever I can offer him advice, I will. Finishing is certainly one area because his shooting is not always his strongest quality, and I’ve reminded him of that plenty of times. Aside from that, he has nearly everything. He likes to claim he strikes the ball better than I do, so I point him towards my goal against [Crystal] Palace on the opening day or the one against Wolves last season. We enjoy winding each other up.”
The Nottingham-born midfielder has set ambitious objectives for the campaign. He wants Everton to qualify for Europe despite their limited squad, progress deep into a cup competition, develop every aspect of his own game and receive his first senior England call-up. His improving form has attracted the attention of Thomas Tuchel, who is due to announce his next squad on Friday.
Dewsbury-Hall says: “This is the closest I’ve ever felt. Players receive a message around two weeks before the squad is confirmed. I was contacted about the extended World Cup list, and I’ve received another message ahead of the upcoming matches. It’s encouraging because it shows you’re performing well. The message is very detailed and explains that the Football Association has a legal obligation to notify you that you’re being considered and that you must remain available for the relevant dates. It feels good because you realise you are close, but you still have to keep performing right until the final moment. The responsibility is mine. I need to play well enough to make the manager select me because nothing will simply be handed to me.”
Everton will not be handed success either, but Dewsbury-Hall and his teammates remain determined to keep moving forward.
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