THE list of world-class players that have come from the ranks of the Saints academy is nothing short of remarkable.
Stars like Gareth Bale, Adam Lallana, Theo Walcott and James Ward-Prowse – each a product of the Southampton academy – have all excelled at the highest levels, both for their clubs and on the international stage.
The Staplewood academy has grown a recent reputation for producing elite talent and theres no sign of that production line slowing down. And now whispers are now swirling that the Saints have unearthed their latest wonderkid…
That kid goes by the name of Tyler Dibling.
In what has been a torrid start for the Saints on their return to the Premier League, teenage sensation Dibling has emerged as a bright spark in the midst of the gloom.
The 18-year-old, who made his first appearance for the club in August 2023, has been a mainstay in Southampton side this season, starting the last four Premier League games. Dibling made his full Premier League debut against Manchester United last month after impressing throughout pre-season and in the League Cup against Cardiff where he registered two assists.
Naturally, his explosive start to the season has attracted interest from some of the biggest clubs in England, with Newcastle and Tottenham among those registering their interest. After scoring his first league goal against Ipswich, manager Russell Martin admitted the club have already turned down offers for the teenager.
He told the Daily Echo: “I think when you’re 18 and you’re playing in the Premier League at the level he has, then every club in the world probably looks at you.
“He’s ours. The club have turned down bids for him previously since I’ve been here. It’s not a secret to people who have watched under-21s football.”
However, this isn’t the first time a club has attempted to lure him away from the South Coast. At the end of the 2021/22 season, when Dibling was just 16 years old, Chelsea convinced him to swap St. Mary’s for Stamford Bridge.
Fortunately for the Saints, Dibling returned after just two appearances for Chelsea, having struggled to settle in. It may have been an early indication of immaturity, but who could blame a 16-year-old for seizing the opportunity to join one of England’s most prestigious clubs?
In a recent interview with the club, the teenager acknowledged that he may have made a mistake by jumping the gun too early.
“When you’re younger and your agent tells you, ‘this club or this club are interested in you,’ you’re thinking, ‘Oh my God!’
“But I should have taken more time to think about it, I realised it wasn’t for me.”
Former B team manager Dave Horseman also spoke on Dibling’s character, acknowledging that the move was never going to work for him.
Speaking to Sky Sports he said, “Tyler was always going to struggle to adjust to living away from home, even in Southampton, if I’m being honest.
“There’s probably other reasons, which I would be speculating on. I don’t want to comment on advice maybe he was getting. He chose to go and it didn’t quite work out.”
This wasn’t Dibling’s first time making headlines on social media. Just prior to his unsuccessful move to Chelsea, a clip on X went viral showcasing him scoring a hat trick of nearly identical goals in an U18 match against Newcastle.
This was the first opportunity for not only Saints fans but the entire world to catch a glimpse of the ‘super young player’ as Ipswich manager Kieran Mckenna described.
Despite the floods of praise and comparisons to Jack Grealish surrounding the youngster, his current manager has urged him to keep his head down.
“He has a nice support network but it’s not all going to be one way.
“He has an incredible belief in a nice, modest way, and he has to keep living at 100 per cent. But we also need to bear in mind his age and be patient.
“It’s not just going to be easy and a linear path to being the best he can be.”
Even while trying to play down his abilities, Martin sung his praises after his first goal against Ipswich.
“He can do things that not many other players I’ve ever seen can do. I love working with him, I love watching him play.
“I’d pay a lot of money to watch him play football and fortunately I’m the guy that gets to work with him and try and develop him.”
Sometimes, a player’s attitude can hinder their potential, but it appears that since his return from London, Dibling has excelled in his development and knuckled down to secure a first team spot at just 18.
But the question is, what has this rollercoaster two-years been like for the young star and how has it affected him mentally?
In a recent interview with the club, Dibling spoke on his debut against United and his breakthrough season in first team football.
“I was very nervous before it. It was against Manchester United as well. I felt like I was in The Journey on FIFA.
“It was weird. I had Rashford next to me. I’ve used him on FIFA for about five years. It was a bit surreal.
“After that game, you just get used to it to be fair. I was so nervous before – I don’t usually get that nervous – but once you step on the pitch and I made that first pass, I settled.”
The 18-year-old’s calm demeanor off the pitch undoubtedly reflects his performance on it, as he continues to shine on the biggest stage.
But what lies ahead for the Saints’ latest star? If he maintains this trajectory, could he reach the heights of some of the greatest players to have graduated from Staplewood?
