Our Everton writers select their player of the season so far as we head into the final international break of 2025
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 29: Michael Keane of Everton celebrates scoring his team's first goal with Jack Grealish and James Tarkowski during the Premier League match between Everton and West Ham United at Hill Dickinson Stadium on September 29, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Michael Keane celebrates with Jack Grealish and James Tarkowski after scoring for Everton against West Ham United at Hill Dickinson Stadium on September 29, 2025
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Troy Deeney raised eyebrows this week when he named Everton centre-back Michael Keane in his BBC Team of the Week. Not because of his selection, mind.
Michael Keane was excellent in the morale-boosting 2-0 home win over Fulham on Saturday, sealing the victory with his second goal of the season at Hill Dickinson Stadium and helping the Blues keep their third clean sheet of the Premier League campaign.
So Keane being picked in the XI by Deeney was no big surprise. But perhaps the words that accompanied his choice were. The Watford legend said of the England international: “Considering they let him go at the end of last year and he was exploring his options, he has arguably been their best performer this season.
“Another goal, another clean sheet at home to Fulham. I think he is really starting to express himself in a way that people were not expecting.”
That's a big claim but there is no disputing the fact that Keane, who at one stage appeared destined to leave Everton in the summer after his contract expired, has been excellent in the absence of the injured Jarrad Branthwaite.
But has he been the Blues' best player of the campaign so far? Our writers have their say...
Joe Thomas
Michael Keane has indeed been excellent - there is little doubt in my mind that he has been Everton's best defender. There was a spell at the end of the first half at the Stadium of Light when the Blues were overwhelmed by Sunderland but just about held on to half-time thanks to four of five key interventions by the centre back - most notably to cover when Wilson Isidor appeared to have been sent through on Jordan Pickford's goal.
The Blues started the second half badly and struggled for the rest of the match, but Keane was key to protecting what now feels a better point than it did at the time. With his two goals, there is a fair argument to name him the best attacker at the club, too.
That is a bit harsh on the forward players who have transformed Everton this season. David Moyes now has a team that looks comfortable on the ball and clever enough to sustain possession in attacking areas and probe opposition defences to look for ways through.
I like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall a lot and I think we have all been impressed with the way Jack Grealish has gone about his business. For me, Iliman Ndiaye is that stand out player, though.
It would have been easy for him to have lost impetus by being moved out onto the right, a position I had real doubts as to whether he could succeed in. His performances have been very good though and the four goals he has already scored have been valuable in the positive results secured so far.
He should have had many more assists too - the finishing of his team-mates hurting him in that area. He has been very good and deserves real credit for his start to the season. It feels like the rest of the world is now waking up to his ability.
One of the charges laid at Moyes' feet in recent weeks has been that Everton are too predictable going forward. I agree most sides know Everton will look to use Grealish and Ndiaye as much as possible and some variation would be great. But have they stopped those players from creating great chances? Absolutely not.
Paul Wheelock
It says everything about Michael Keane's performances this season that he is very much in this conversation.
I'll be honest, I've always liked him, but I did wonder whether there would be a way back for the defender after his difficult appearance - his first in more than two months - off the bench in the home loss to Manchester City in April.
But, as throughout his time at the club, he showed resilience to bounce back from that tough cameo, expertly deputised for James Tarkowski at the end of the campaign, and he has taken that form into this season.
However, there are three players above him in the pecking order, in my opinion.
James Garner has become a real rock for David Moyes, showing his ability to play completely out of position at right-back and particularly left-back, while also operating in his usual midfield role to a high standard.
And then there is Iliman Ndiaye, the magic man who continues to light up Hill Dickinson Stadium and grounds across the country, as evidenced by his superb solo strike at Sunderland last week. With four goals to his name - a name which is becoming increasingly well known - the Senegalese is a joy to watch.
And the same can be said of my player of the season so far - Jack Grealish.
The best players are the best decision makers and when you watch Grealish you realise why he has reached the pinnacle of the game. He rarely wastes a pass - which are usually beautifully weighted - and like Ndiaye, the on-loan Manchester City man is someone who gets you off your seat.
And the great thing is, there should be more to come. Grealish may no longer be the carefree maverick he once was at Aston Villa, but there is no reason why he should not revel in the greater freedom afforded to him by David Moyes than by the great Pep Guardiola.
Connor O'Neill
When he joined from Manchester City during the summer transfer window, I said immediately that Jack Grealish instantly became Everton’s best player. And it is correct to say that he has shown flashes of why he was involved in a side that won the Treble a couple of years ago.
But it also says a lot about how well Iliman Ndiaye has been playing that he has outperformed Grealish.
As Paul says, he continually lights up Hill Dickinson Stadium, and he’s the reason so many supporters find themselves on the edge of their seats.
But even Ndiaye has been outperformed so far this season, but honourable mentions first for Jordan Pickford and James Garner.
Pickford has been his usual brilliant self. I have lost count of how many times he has saved Everton in recent years, and the Blues really are lucky to have him.
While Garner has become a mainstay for the Blues since joining from Manchester United in 2022, and his commitment to the club’s cause cannot be doubted.
He has played every available minute this season and become an indispensable part of Everton's squad.
Whether it be left-back, right-back or in the middle of the field, he has never put a foot wrong and has done everything that has been asked of him.
But for me Everton’s player of the season so far is indeed Michael Keane – who has been absolutely outstanding.
It has not always been plain sailing for the defender at Everton, but thank God he signed a new deal in the summer; the Blues would be lost without him.
The biggest compliment you can pay Keane is that he has outperformed James Tarkowski this season, and he has been Everton’s Mr Consistent in recent years.