Everton finally did some business, as they capped off the January transfer window by signing winger Tyrique George on loan from Chelsea.The agreement includes an option to buy, and Everton have bolste...
Everton finally did some business, as they capped off the January transfer window by signing winger Tyrique George on loan from Chelsea.
The agreement includes an option to buy, and Everton have bolstered their ranks with the acquisition of another exciting young talent.
A winger was not necessarily a priority going into the transfer window, though an extra wide option certainly would not have been sniffed at. However, Jack Grealish’s (likely) season-ending injury has exacerbated the requirement for a winger to come in.
And, thankfully, it seems Everton are finally going to address a huge, burning need in the squad: Pace. George is not lightning quick, but he is certainly faster than any of Everton’s other wide options. He can play across the forward line, and though he is at his best on the left, that level of versatility is always a bonus.
George has played 37 times for Chelsea, making 15 starts. In his 1,644 minutes on the pitch, he has contributed to 12 goals (six goals, six assists).
In contrast, Tyler Dibling — Everton’s other young winger, who has struggled to establish himself in the first team (fairly or unfairly) — has played 2,873 senior minutes and provided six goal contributions (four goals, two assists); none of those goal involvements have yet come for the Toffees.
Dibling and George are both highly talented youngsters with vast potential, and it really is exciting to see Everton add more young talent to their squad. Moyes may well have to get out of his own way in certain respects, though. He must utilise these talents over the back half of the season. Even with the Toffees pushing for Europe, Dibling and George are a glimpse at a potential future and must be nurtured.
But what else will George bring to Everton?
One thing is clear: He loves to shoot. A frustration for many Evertonians this season has been Everton’s forward players not taking on enough shots. In fact, only five Premier League teams have had fewer shots than the Toffees this season, and Moyes’s men rank only above lowly Burnley for shots on target. Only four top-flight teams have scored fewer goals than Everton.
At the risk of channeling Michael Owen’s punditry, if you don’t shoot, you hardly ever score… George could provide a tonic to that. George averages 2.2 shots per 90 in all competitions this season, which is more than any of Everton’s other wide players this term.
As this excellent video from Cai Jones details, George is fearless when it comes to getting shots off. He is always looking for an opportunity to open up and have a pop at goal, and that is something Everton have sorely missed this term.
George is, of course, nowhere near the finished product. And he is not going to provide the creativity of Grealish. However, his direct approach and turn of pace could be a breath of fresh air to this Everton team, which — especially when it is forced to chase games — does look decidedly one-paced.
An extra full-back would have been a much-needed boost this window, but as it is, both full-back areas will have to be addressed in the summer.
But with the George deal including an option to buy, if he is given a chance by Moyes, and if he takes it, then having the England youth international on Everton’s books is a tantalising prospect.
Reader Comments (32)
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Mark Murphy 3 Posted 03/02/2026 at 16:29:19
Shocking Andrew, shocking!
Mark Wynne 4 Posted 03/02/2026 at 17:18:03
To think Moyes has the final say on transfers is weird and George doesn't really fit the bill of a 36-year-old journeyman that will play where he's told.
The only potential signing I saw us apparently in for over the Summer that had Moyes's fingerprints all over it was Soucek. In a five-man midfield, he's going to start Gueye, Dewsbury-Hall, Garner, Ndiaye plus one other -- either Armstrong, McNeil, Iroegbunam, Rohl, Dibling or Alcaraz (and I don't think he trusts Alcaraz, Rohl or Dibling).
Even if he switches Garner to fullback (LOL) that probably means Iroegbunam or McNeil in the side. I don't see how George gets near the team unless Moyes has a personality transplant.
John Collins 6 Posted 03/02/2026 at 17:31:35
It's strange Mike.
We all know how risk averse he is when it comes to setting the team up.
What young players do you envisage getting decent runs in the team for the remainder of the season?
Dave Lynch 8 Posted 03/02/2026 at 19:16:04
If he gets a start I'll be amazed
Derek Knox 9 Posted 03/02/2026 at 19:31:55
I hope this question/dilemma doesn't drag on too long, otherwise it could be a case for George and the Dragon ? :-)
Laurie Hartley 10 Posted 04/02/2026 at 04:36:25
Patric - that video you linked of Cai Jones is really worth listening to all the way through. That young fella's head is full of ideas. I actually posted it on the other thread earlier today not realising you had put it up on your article.
Listening to young Cai, a thought came into my head (believe it or not). We have an academy for young prospective footballers. Why don't we have an academy of coaching and management?
I reckon that young fella understands the game of football and he and others like him, are a talent that is worth tapping into. Which conveniently leads me into a response to Mark's #4 post.
Some great managers of the past produced teams of champions by tapping into young players, Busby, Catterick, and Ferguson come to mind. If Moyes doesn't play George and for that matter Dibling (who is left-footed) now that Grealish is out, he most definitely needs a “personality transplant”.
I feel sorry for McNeil for the way things have turned out for him in the window but, even apart from where his head might be after that debacle, I can't see him pinning Robinson back in his own half when we play Fulham. Surely he has to play at least one of them in that game.
Mick O\'Malley 12 Posted 04/02/2026 at 07:59:15
Barry usually has a "shocker" because he is left isolated up front with 2 centre-backs all over him. Maybe if we weren't camped out in our penalty box, Barry could get involved more?
I've seen some nice touches from him, especially leading uo to the absolute sitter Dewsbury-Hall missed on Saturday. I'm hoping that George gets a start and is a winger who will get past the full-back and put a first-time cross in.
I'm sick to death of watching the ball getting recycled: we get the ball on the wing, it gets passed back to the full-back, played across defence to the other full-back... just try some early crosses into the box, for fuck's sake!
13 Posted 04/02/2026 at 09:38:28
💰 𝐍𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 💰
1. Manchester United £674M2. Arsenal £663M3. Chelsea £650M4. Tottenham Hotspur £573M5. Newcastle United £423M6. Liverpool £420M7. Manchester City £396M8. Nottingham Forest £327M9. West Ham United £317M10. Crystal Palace £201M11. Fulham £143M12. Sunderland £139M13. Bournemouth £127M14. Burnley £105M15. Brentford £102M16. Aston Villa £94M17. Leeds United £73M𝟏𝟖. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐧 £𝟏𝟐M19. Wolverhampton Wanderers £8.6M20. Brighton & Hove Albion –£2.4M
Figures courtesy of Transfermarkt
From the Echo. I think that's the context of what the club has faced and is overcoming.
James Fletcher 15 Posted 04/02/2026 at 11:00:32
@Alan (11) judgin from his games for England U21s he plays anywhere across a front 3 so could happily fill in on either wing
Andrew Merrick 16 Posted 04/02/2026 at 11:20:20
Moyes has to use Ty2, maybe he eases him in, but he has to play.
4 months to see what he gives
John Collins 17 Posted 04/02/2026 at 11:48:41
I think we have 14 games left.
I would be shocked if he starts half of them.
Darren Hind 18 Posted 04/02/2026 at 11:51:57
Just hope he gets an opportunity.
He'll have to grab it with both hands if he does, because, if he doesn’t hit the ground running, he wont get many more.
Philip Devlin 19 Posted 04/02/2026 at 12:01:54
If the club were willing to let McNeil go yesterday, they must've arrived at a decision that George would get regular time straight away.
This is brave, borderline reckless for a 19-year-old with little Premier League experience. Not very Moyes-esque.
Laurie Hartley 20 Posted 05/02/2026 at 02:59:11
Phillip # 19 - I would have to agree it is not very Moyes-esque but going off this video, I don't think it is borderline reckless.
He looks a very competitive Moyes type to me. Maybe as Brian @ 4 suggested, he has spoken to Lee Carsley...
Apart from that, there are a surprising number of young players playing in the Premier League, going by this:
Top 20 Under-21 Premier League players in 2025-26
I hope he starts him on the left against Fulham. I am looking forward to the pre-match thread -- could be interesting.
Philip Devlin 21 Posted 05/02/2026 at 10:42:44
Oh I agree Laurie, I'd have him on from the get go. That 19-year-old boundless energy is exactly what we need. My original forward slash between “brave” and “borderline reckless” denoting “either or depending on how you see it” has been edited to a comma.
I doubt we'll be shocked to see McNeil start against Fulham and be replaced by George. But I reckon/hope he'll get regular starts soon.
Martin Berry 22 Posted 05/02/2026 at 10:50:53
The talk of Moyes not starting him? Well, if that was the case, then what is the point of a loan with an option to buy? Of course he will start, it's just a matter of using him where the manager sees fit.
We have to understand that this is another part of the future jigsaw and we need patience. I am excited to see who we bring in during the Summer window. I predict that we are looking at young, pacey full-backs and another young striker.
It's prudent to get it right and I am happy now with what we have which I see has an exciting start.
Alan J Thompson 24 Posted 05/02/2026 at 14:50:43
Martin (#22);
According to some, it is so he can be seen in training, on the grass.
Paul Griffiths 25 Posted 06/02/2026 at 06:49:19
He doesn't smile a lot does he? When asked to point to the badge he pointed to the Stake logo FFS. Cheer up lad, it's not the end of the world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_1YqfFHTXg
Tony Abrahams 26 Posted 06/02/2026 at 07:47:00
He just might not be interested in all the palaver bollocks Paul.
Happy inside, I used to get told to smile all the time, and when it came to picking up the trophy after winning the cup for the school, it was probably the only time I ever fell out with my mates.
I was football mad, the cup had already been won before I had to pick it up, so as far as I was concerned I was already thinking of the next game. Crazy looking back, don’t let that miserable bastard, pick up the cup, fuckin put it above your head lad and let us celebrate, what’s the fuckin matter with yer?
It became a standing joke, even though I was genuinely one of the happiest kids around. Leave the kid to show his emotions on the pitch!
Mark Murphy 29 Posted 06/02/2026 at 13:39:04
Tony, you must take after your mum then??
On topic, I would love it, love it, if PG's front four start tomorrow!
In other news -- Thierno Barry is on the shortlist for Premier League Player of the Month…..
John Collins 30 Posted 06/02/2026 at 13:39:35
I only really remember one game where we pressed in numbers this season, Tony, I think it was Forest away.
As you will know, half a press is far more dangerous than no press.
Tony Abrahams 31 Posted 06/02/2026 at 14:36:14
This is one of the main reasons why I think our home form is very patchy, John.
I thought we defended deep at Forest and picked them off very well on the counter, but my favourite performance was at Villa, when we defended a bit higher (until the last 20 minutes when I think it is natural to go a bit deeper if you're defending a lead) because we kept our shape, played closer together, and every single player put a proper shift in.
I'd love to see Everton play like that every week because I thought it was a proper team performance.
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