Everton conclude deal with Chelsea for Dewsbury-Hall
Everton have moved to strengthen their midfield options with the acquisition of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea for an initial fee of £25m.
The 26-year-old agreed a five-year contract with the Toffees and concluded a successful medical yesterday to wrap up a seamless transfer to Merseyside ahead of the new season which is now less than two weeks away.
Dewsbury-Hall made his name at Leicester City, first catching the eye in the season they went down to the Championship in 2022-23 before becoming a leading light in the Foxes' campaign as they won promotion back to the top flight the following season.
He had made a big enough impression on manager Enzo Maresca that the Italian made it a priority to take him with him to Chelsea last year in a £30m deal but Dewsbury-Hall found it difficult to hold down a regular first-team in the Premier League.
Instead, he was used extensively in the Londoners' triumphant UEFA Conference League campaign where he was ever-present in their 15 matches and scored four goals and then made one start in the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States this summer which Chelsea also won.
With Chelsea adding to an already bloated senior squad this summer, Dewsbury-Hall's prospects at Stamford Bridge looked more challenging than ever approaching a World Cup year and with Maresca looking to offload players this summer, Everton were able to conclude a swift deal to draft him in.
"I'm so, so excited to get started. Just sitting here in the stadium, it's unbelievable," he told evertontv. "I'm honestly very excited, my family's excited. There's a real buzz about this.
"It feels right for me. So just that alone gives me the motivation and the extra determination to show everybody, to prove a point and have a really successful time here.
"Everton's one of the biggest clubs in the country, and I think that in the next couple of years, the future is going to be bright. It was an easy decision in the end to come here and play for this club.
"You look at the stadium – it's incredible. Obviously, I've played in all of the Premier League stadiums, and this is one of, if not the most impressive, so that in itself is a major, major exciting factor for wanting to join.
"Then the fan base is one of the most passionate in the country, so I know if we start playing well and I start showing the fans what I'm about, it's going to be a big, big bonus to help me and the team show our best. So that's what I want."
Able to operate as a No 8 or a No 10, Dewsbury-Hall has the potential to add much-needed creativity, versatility and an eye for goal to Everton's midfield.
Reader Responses
Selected thoughts from readers06/08/2025 15:14:44
Very quiet and calm transfer business. The way you want it done. A ready to start games player for a fee that would barely buy you a nineteen year old.prospect.
Hopefully there's a few more.lime it.
06/08/2025 16:16:11
A really exciting signing. KDH should make a huge impact in our midfield with his quality on the ball. He seems also to have the hunger of a player with a point to prove. In the current market the fee seems reasonable for a player approaching his peak years.
06/08/2025 21:00:45
A solid acquisition which will improve the team and hopefully add a bit of sparkle to the midfield…keep spending!!
06/08/2025 22:07:23
Don't know a lot about this guy, but if he feels he has a point to prove, bring it on.
06/08/2025 22:47:21
He speaks well and he sounds like a bright young man. He should be a good replacement for Doucoure.
06/08/2025 22:48:46
Prima facie a signing who will improve the quality of the squad and I wish him every success. My reservations are the the size of the fee plus add ons and the fact that he will be 27 years old next month. I feel that we should be focussing more on players in the age range 19-25 years for that level of fee and above.
07/08/2025 01:29:12
Ordinarily I'd agree with you, Chris but this summer's market is massively inflated (although I worry this is just how it's going to be from now on) — today's £25m player is yesterday's £10 – £15m player.
As Paddy Boyland points out in his piece for the Athletic, Dewsbury-Hall is the oldest out-field player we've signed so far and while it's good to be aiming for the age range you describe, EFC do need a healthy mix of experience this summer given how much walked out the door in the form of Young, Doucouré, DCL, etc.
Also a bit like Vardy and Barnes at Leicester, KDH was a bit of a late bloomer and got a later start to his top-level career. So he doesn't have as many "miles on the clock" as others in his age range.
As I posted to Twitter. I think this is going to be an excellent signing for us — He instantly upgrades the midfield as the first-team ready starter who adds versatility, creativity and an eye for goal from midfield that we’ve really been lacking in recent years.
07/08/2025 04:19:36
Lyndon, glad that you pointed out the "Low Mileage" record with KDH: 25MM is a bargain, in fact, for someone who has continental tournament experience yet entering his prime. While he doesn't appear to be flashy on the pitch, he seems to be an ever-dependable (without too long an injury list on record), low profile and mobile midfielder.
He might not have been the Prima Ballerina at Chelsea's Conference-Winning Squad, but it never hurts to add a winning predigree to the team.
My only question is: is he dynamic enough to be a box-to-box #8 who can initiate counter-attack and serve as a connector between our defence and creative minds up front?
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06/08/2025 15:01:42
Good news! We desperately need a new right back and, especially, a pacey right winger. I'm sure both must be imminent!