In a relatively quick fashion, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall went from an Everton target to an Everton player. Rumors began swirling around the player joining on Monday, and in just two days' time, he's being confirmed as the fifth signing of the summer for the Toffees.
The midfielder comes to Everton on a reported £25 million deal, although, as per usual, the club is announcing it as an "undisclosed fee."
Dewsbury-Hall has shown the ability to play across multiple midfield positions, although he is strongest as a more progressive central midfielder, where he can use his ability to ping passes and carry the ball forward to set up other players for goals.
He was at Leicester City from the age of 17 until 2024, with a half-season loan to Blackpool and a full year at Luton Town also included in that span. A 12-goal, 15-assist performance with the Foxes in 2023/24 earned him a move to Chelsea last summer, but he quickly fell behind a glut of other players at his position.
While he didn't play much in the Premier League for Chelsea (just 13 matches and two starts), he was the star of their run to the Europa Conference League trophy, starting 11 of his 13 matches, scoring four times, and adding an assist during the tournament.
The hope is that Dewsbury-Hall can bring more creativity to an Everton side that has been quite reliant on Iliman Ndiaye to shoulder that burden. And while the Senegal international has been excellent since arriving on Merseyside, another player to carry the creative load will be helpful.
Ideally, the Englishman also provides some goals, something he's shown himself capable of doing in other competitions.
This is a major step in the right direction for Everton, as the club looks to improve the squad heading into the final preseason match, Saturday's match against Roma at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
But more work is required. And for the sake of the club and all its supporters, here's hoping it is all quiet, solid business like this move has been.