Everton’s rising star Tyrique George: The £18m winger with big aims for the short and long term

Economy World


The pass was just behind Tyrique George, but what came next helped explain why there are such high hopes for the Everton youngster.

In one fluid motion, George swivelled in the box and fired a precise low finish past a helpless Lukas Hornicek in the Newcastle United goal.

It was the first time the 20-year-old, who joined permanently for an initial £18million ($24.4m) after a positive loan spell in the second half of last season, had scored for Everton, and the kind of goal on which he built his name in the academy ranks at Chelsea.

George played through a bout of illness in Edinburgh. He spoke to media afterwards with a croaky, at times barely discernible, voice. But this was his latest step forward in a promising pre-season, and just the clearest indication yet that he is finding his feet on Merseyside.

“You can tell by my celebration that I was happy,” he told the media, including The Athletic, after the 3-1 Murrayfield win. “It was good to get off the mark. I’m definitely getting fitter and more confident with how I’m playing. I know the system a bit better as well, so it’s all gelling well.”

Despite his lack of minutes during last season’s loan spell — he made just one Premier League start after joining at the end of the winter window — George believed Everton to be the best place for his development.

The insertion of a permanent option in the original loan, which was not eventually triggered but negotiated down to a lower upfront fee, suggested they believed in his talent on a long-term basis.

Everton manager David Moyes and the recruitment team, meanwhile, saw him as a talented young player who could add goal threat and direct running from wide areas, and a potential future England international.

George has spent most of his nascent career on the left or in a central role behind the striker, and is working with the Everton coaching staff after training sessions to hone his all-round game.

“I’ve always played left or No 10, so I’m comfortable coming inside,” he said. “All the staff are encouraging me to be direct, to just express myself and be myself. Basically, after every training session we always try to do a bit of extra, so it’s going to add up throughout the season.“

The belief at Everton is that they are assembling a core of gifted youngsters, including George, 19-year-old midfielder Harrison Armstrong and winger Tyler Dibling, 20.

Of those, it is arguably the former Chelsea youngster who is closest to regular minutes, particularly with uncertainty lingering over a move for Manchester City’s Jack Grealish, another loanee last season.

Everton have been waiting to see how the former England international recovers from a long-term foot injury and what terms are on offer before deciding whether to proceed with a move. It would arguably be better for George, at least, if that deal does not happen.

Tyrique George has spoken of his desire to provide goals and assists (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

He is close to his England Under-21 team-mate Dibling, with the pair “pushing each other a lot” in training. He describes academy graduate Armstrong, meanwhile, as a “top player and person; a funny guy.”

“All the players gel really well together,” he says. “A great bunch of lads as well, so it’s easy to play with them.”

Promising noises, then, but the key to any young player’s development is regular exposure to first-team action.

Dibling and fellow summer 2025 signing Adam Aznou found themselves on the periphery of Moyes’ squad last season, the latter failing to make a single Premier League appearance. George, meanwhile, never managed to force his way into the Scot’s starting line-up regularly, despite Grealish’s season being curtailed by injury in January.

If Everton are to make the most of this promising young core, they will need to manage them carefully.

On an individual and team level, though, George is optimistic about what the season holds. Speaking to Premier Sports after the Newcastle win, he said the team would be targeting Europe again, after a poor end to the campaign saw them miss out on a continental berth.

“I’m very excited,” he added in a separate interview with written media. “We’re just pushing together in training to get ready.”

He has tasked himself with bringing goals and assists to the team, as well as forcing his way into Moyes’ plans.

“I’ve got some (individual targets), but I can’t tell you,” he said. “I feel like every top player should have some sort of tallies (in mind) throughout the season.

“I’m obviously trying to break into the team as well. I’m a young player, so I want to try to get a few starts in the league. And some goals and assists.”

After a stellar youth career, and decent early steps with Chelsea and Everton, this could be the year George truly makes the breakthrough at the top level.