Sean Dyche has described Everton's transfer strategy during his time in charge as a "s***show," saying he spent his near two-year spell at the club constantly putting out fires. The 55-year-old made the comments on The Good, the Bad and The Football podcast, in partnership with Midnite, hosted by Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt.
Dyche said his long spell at Burnley had allowed him to delegate recruitment once staff understood his priorities, but that Everton required a very different approach amid the club's financial crisis and battle to stay in the Premier League.
"When you are at somewhere a longer period like I was at Burnley, after year three or four we have got it up and running, it is working, everyone knows their roles," Dyche said. "You can delegate better, once that trust builds and you are onto something, the CEO, data analysts and sports science knows what you are thinking, then it is really easy."
"It is not so easy going to Everton, where it is like a f***ing s***show you know and it is constant putting out fires," he said. "It was a whole different ball game, brilliant in a weird way, rewarding when you get it done. There was a reward because you get the feeling of 'I've played that little part in a really important time' and Evertonians now treat me way different than at the time. When I came out they were ready for me to go, but when I meet fans now they are like 'thanks for helping us through it.'"
Everton's transfer dealings
Beto and Youssef Chermiti were Everton's only fee-paying signings in the summer of 2023, with Ashley Young joining on a free transfer and Arnaut Danjuma and Jack Harrison arriving on loan. Moise Kean and Alex Iwobi were sold that same summer for sizeable fees.
The following summer, Everton signed Iliman Ndiaye, Jake O'Brien and Tim Iroegbunam in fee-paying deals, while Harrison, Jesper Lindstrom, Orel Mangala and Armando Broja joined on loan. Amadou Onana left for Aston Villa in a £50m move.
Dyche was sacked a month after the Friedkin Group completed its takeover of Everton, with David Moyes appointed as his successor in January 2025. Everton overhauled its recruitment staff in June, appointing a technical director, a director of scouting and recruitment, a head of football strategy and analytics, and a head of player trading.
Praise for Iraola
Dyche also praised new Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, after Scholes compared Dyche's success guiding Burnley into Europe to Iraola's achievements last season at Bournemouth. Dyche pointed to how Iraola adapted his tactics in the Premier League after a slow start, having quickly abandoned his intended style of play.
Iraola saw his Bournemouth side thrashed 3-0 by Everton in October 2023 and failed to win any of his opening eight matches in charge. Dyche said Iraola then shifted to what he called "lower league football" played at a high level, over three impressive seasons at the club.
"Iraola basically plays lower league football, but at a high level. They turn you and turn you, and force you into submission," Dyche said. "High quality and high energy version. I marvelled at it because we ran all over them at Everton when he was trying to play what you would imagine is the Spanish way."
"I think he is brilliant at managing, as you could tell he went 'this ain't going to work.' The next time we played them, he is bombing it down our throats, getting us turned, full backs keep turning and having to run back towards their own goal, centre halves thinking that they never get a break. They looked a different outfit and he's done a brilliant job."
