Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts - CameraSport via Getty Images
Merlin Rohl is a popular player at Everton, having been at the club for just over a year now.
The German signed for the club last year on an initial loan from SC Freiburg, and there was always an option to buy, which became an obligation based on appearances.
It was a tricky first term for Merlin Rohl, with David Moyes showing unwavering faith in his more experienced midfield options like James Garner, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Idrissa Gana Gueye, who has now moved on of course.
Rohl had to contend with mainly substitute appearances, as he sought to make an impression.
But towards the end of 2025/26, Rohl got some chances for Everton and actually operated out wide. Then in pre-season, he had some outings at right-back before the club signed Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Rohl has now given a new interview alongside the release of his new photo book ‘Life with Everton’ – and some of his answers are just brilliant.
Merlin Rohl could become one of the most popular Everton players in years
Plenty of people have known about Rohl’s love of photography.
The club have previously posted several times on social media about it, and fans have certainly welcomed his hobby.
It’s safe to say he’s an interesting and curious character. Just last month, Rohl issued a profound statement on what it means to be a footballer, allowing fans an insight into his way of thinking.
He is definitely a very refreshing communicator, which is clear from a new interview he’s done with the German publication Kicker. His answer about playing right-back for Everton is particularly good.
He said (as quoted by GGFN): “I’m now completely detached from which position I play. You can give the team different things depending on the situation and, in that respect, the position becomes completely secondary. That was a process for me. It wasn’t something that was always there.
“The people in charge at Freiburg in particular will remember things rather differently, because there were discussions there about how I would rather play as an eight.”
On the idea of coming round to the idea of right-back, Rohl added: “It developed through a process and very close communication with Leighton Baines. He was one of the best in the world in that position. Then there’s Seamus Coleman, another legend here who also played full-back. They are two people who have become very important to me and from whom I’m learning a great deal.”
And on Maitland-Niles signing recently, he said: “We can learn from each other. We have slightly different profiles in terms of how we play with the ball and that gives the coach another option in the position. I simply want to keep improving so that I’m good enough to always play.”
It is just such a mature and refreshing response from Rohl. It wasn’t really what he signed up for, but he is clearly more than willing to explore the potential people think he has for the position.
As well as being into photography, Rohl is also a chess fan. Apparently, there is a chessboard in the dressing room at Finch Farm, and Vitalii Mykolenko is his regular opponent. He also doesn’t do social media, and is someone who thinks ‘more deeply about football’s surrounding structures than most players are generally encouraged to do publicly’.
Between his quirky and endearing personality, and his clear desire to be a team player, it seems almost nailed-on that Rohl will eventually become a cult hero at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Of course, the main thing that will help achieve that tag is performances on the pitch. And on that front, there have certainly been encouraging signs.