Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's Drive at Everton: From Chelsea to Leadership

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall rode transfer deadline day like every Everton supporter – only from the inside.

He arrived at Finch Farm that morning with the same buzz as the fanbase. By the time the window slammed shut, excitement had turned to disbelief, then irritation. Not because he doubted Everton’s ambition under The Friedkin Group, but because of what he saw being said about the players left behind.

While supporters fretted over a squad trimmed rather than strengthened, Dewsbury-Hall looked around the dressing room and saw something else entirely.

“We’ll show everyone”

Everton ended deadline day with David Moyes holding fewer options than he started with, one recognised striker and no natural cover at either full-back. The chaos peaked when US international Folarin Balogun walked away from a £40m move just minutes after a deal sheet had gone in.

Outside the club, the mood turned toxic. Inside, Dewsbury-Hall insists it hardened something.

“Really good to be honest,” he says of the dressing-room atmosphere. “Definitely not the same mood as what I’ve seen on the outside. There’s a good mentality this year of: ‘We’ll show everyone.’”

Everton’s early-season performances back him up. The noise, though, has clearly got under his skin.

“I’ve seen all of the reactions, all of the meltdowns, and in all honesty it annoyed me a bit,” he says, not bothering to sugarcoat it. “I get where people are coming from; everyone wants to sign everyone and have the perfect squad. But there are still 19 lads in this building who are going to hopefully take this club to good things this year. That was getting disregarded.

“I saw people saying: ‘We’ll be lucky to stay up this year.’ What message is that sending to the lads who are already here? I’m not blaming anyone. We get it. It didn’t work. But let’s all be positive – right, it’s done, bang, let’s go – and that’s what we’ve been trying to say in the dressing room. Of course we would have wanted to sign a couple more, but we’re happy with what we’ve got and it’s given us more impetus now to move on.”

Moyes has already voiced his concern about what such a window might signal to his players at a time when he is trying to drag the club forward. Dewsbury-Hall shrugs that off.

“Not really, no,” he says when asked if the business has damaged belief. “I know we’ve got a smaller squad but we’ve got some really good players. Our starting XI is top, a European starting XI.

“I get it, you need a whole squad, but we’ve got 17, 18 players at a really, really good level. I don’t think a couple of years ago it was at that level. Actually I know it wasn’t. Things can be out of your hands in football and that’s what happened for us. But we quickly realised: ‘Hang on a minute, look around the dressing room – top player, top player, top player.’ If we’re doing the right things we can still be successful.”

From Stamford Bridge to the heart of Everton

Dewsbury-Hall has become central to that belief. Since his £28m move from Chelsea last summer, the 28‑year‑old has gone from squad piece at Stamford Bridge to driving force at Goodison.

He knew he had to go.

“I’m in the prime years of my career,” he says. “I couldn’t afford to spend more years stagnating.”

On the pitch, his influence is obvious. Off it, his role has grown just as quickly. With Séamus Coleman departing in the summer and a huge leadership void opening up, Everton built a new leadership group. Dewsbury-Hall was voted in after just one season.

“Because Séamus has left such a big hole we need a group of experienced lads to crack on together and keep the standards high and to drive things,” he explains. “It’s just the more experienced lads – [Jordan] Pickford, Tarky [James Tarkowski, the new club captain], Jimmy [James] Garner, myself. The ones that have been playing in the Premier League for years or feel like they are settled at the club.

“It’s nice [to be voted in after just one season] but it’s definitely an impact I wanted to have. I’m really pleased that the lads look at me as someone that can be important for the dressing room.”

That respect is not limited to the senior core. It stretches to the next generation.

Protecting the future – and having a laugh

Harrison Armstrong almost slipped through Everton’s fingers on deadline day. The 19‑year‑old midfielder looked set for a move to Nottingham Forest until Everton’s owners were hit by a furious backlash from supporters away at Bournemouth. The U-turn that followed kept him on Merseyside.

“They definitely made their feelings known and obviously it worked,” Dewsbury-Hall says. “Big credit to them for that, they were amazing that day. And I know for a fact it made Harrison feel very good and it helped him. He is a very confident lad and well respected in the dressing room for such a young age.”

Dewsbury-Hall has taken on a mentor’s role, though not without a bit of needle.

“If there is anything I can help him with then I will. Shooting’s definitely one because his shooting is sometimes not the best, and I’ve told him that many times. But he’s got pretty much everything else. He always likes to say he’s got a better strike than me so I just tell him to look at the [Crystal] Palace goal [on the opening day] or the Wolves goal last season. We have good banter.”

The Palace strike, a crisp, rising effort, and last season’s hit against Wolves are his trump cards in that argument. Armstrong will have to produce something similar to win it.

Eyes on Europe – and England

Dewsbury-Hall is not shy about his ambitions. For Everton and for himself.

He wants European football. He wants a proper cup run. He wants to round out his game. And he wants an England cap.

All of that, he insists, is possible even with a smaller squad.

He knows the national team picture has shifted, too. His form has already pushed him closer to Thomas Tuchel’s plans than ever before.

“I know I’m the closest I have ever been now,” he says. “You get a message two weeks before the squad is announced. I got one for the long list for the World Cup and I’ve had one for these next games. It’s nice. It means you are doing OK.

“It’s a long, long message. It tells you that it’s a legal requirement for us [the Football Association] to tell you in advance that you are in contention and to be available for these dates. It’s a good feeling because you think: ‘OK, I am close,’ but you know you have to keep pushing it to the last minute. It’s up to me. It’s got to be me that forces his hand to choose me. It’s not going to be given to me.”

That line could double as the motto for Everton’s season.

Nothing will be given to them. Not with a thin squad, a restless fanbase and questions swirling around the club’s direction.

Dewsbury-Hall is clear: he and his teammates will have to force it.