David Moyes’ Everton have only signed two new outfield players on permanent deals this summer but, ironically enough, both of those – Thierno Barry and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – were reportedly on West Ham United’s wishlist too.
For the second time in the space of a few weeks, Moyes completed the big-money acquisition of a footballer his old employers at the London Stadium had taken a liking to themselves.
Moyes was thrilled to land Thierno Barry on a £27 million deal from Villarreal. The imposing centre-forward was one of many talented goal-getters linked with West Ham United at the beginning of the window.
A position in which the Hammers still feel worryingly short; The addition of 33-year-old free-agent Callum Wilson providing more questions than answers.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, meanwhile, is the latest name to be scrubbed off a midfield wishlist growing sparser by the day.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall celebrates winning the Conference League with Chelsea
Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images
David Moyes’ Everton snap up West Ham United-linked Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea
David Moyes demanded more additions from his Everton bosses following last week’s 2-1 defeat by West Ham in Chicago. And the Friedkin family listened.
Dewsbury-Hall joins Barry on Merseyside after the Toffees agreed a £28 million fee with Chelsea.
“We are pleased that Kiernan has chosen to join,” Moyes told the club’s official website, Everton beating the club he led to Europa Conference League glory in 2023 to the punch.
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“He had other clubs interested in signing him but he was excited by the opportunity and the challenge at Everton. Kiernan’s quality and experience of the Premier League gives us the hope that he can adapt quickly.”
While Graham Potter turned his nose up at Jadon Sancho – Chelsea offered the Manchester United misfit in exchange for Mohammed Kudus a couple of months back – it appears that there was one player at Stamford Bridge the West Ham boss did like.
According to The Independent, Potter urged David Sullivan to sign Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall all the way back in January. Only days after he replaced Julen Lopetegui in the dugout.
Seven months later, the former Leicester City ace goes the same way as Tyler Morton, Harvey Elliott, Mateus Fernandes, Douglas Luiz and more.
Liverpool agreed to sell Morton to Lyon on Tuesday. Elliott is now in talks with RB Leipzig, while the finances involved mean West Ham seem unlikely to raid Southampton or Juventus for Fernandes or Luiz respectively.
Ardon Jashari and Wilfred Ndidi can be ruled out now too. Jashari joins AC Milan in a £34 million deal after rebuffing the Hammers’ advances, while Ndidi is swapping Leicester for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Besiktas.
Add in the suggestion that Jacob Ramsey is valued at £40 million-plus by Aston Villa and it is far from certain where West Ham go from here in their midfielder pursuit.
Former Leicester star admits working with Moyes was a big draw
Dewsbury-Hall, meanwhile, admits that the chance to work with David Moyes was a major factor in his decision to leave Chelsea after just one season.
“I’m honestly very excited. There’s a real buzz about this,” says Dewsbury-Hall, who made only 13 Premier League appearances and two starts under Enzo Maresca.
“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 is 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.
“For me to leave my old club, it would have had to have been for something special. A project that I really believed in. After speaking to the manager and seeing the ambitions with the new stadium and everything, it felt like the right club, it felt like the right fit for me for the next step.
“[Moyes] said he’s been admiring me for a while. He loves the way I play and just explained to me what he sees me doing in my role in this team. That’s what you want to hear as a player.
“I have enormous respect for him. He’s a legend of the game, so it’ll be a pleasure to work under him.”