Quick Facts
PiscesBiography
Tyler-Jay Dibling (born 17 February 2006) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL Championship club Southampton.
Club career
Born in Exeter, Dibling started his career with local side Axminster Town AFC, where his father Sam played for the men's team. He joined Millwey Rise FC at the age of five, spending two years with the youth side. He joined Southampton in 2012, also spending a year with Exeter City at the age of seven, before signing a professional contract with The Saints in October 2021. In April 2022, he scored a hat-trick of near-identical goals in a Premier League 2 game against Newcastle United, with a video of the goals going viral.
Having been named on the bench for a Premier League game against Brentford, in which he did not feature, Dibling drew attention from Newcastle United and Chelsea. He joined the latter in July 2022, after ten years with Southampton, with the promise of a professional contract once he turned seventeen. However, after failing to settle at Chelsea, making only two appearances for the club's under-18 side, he returned to Southampton in September 2022.
Dibling signed a scholarship deal with Southampton on 17 September 2022, stating that the club felt like a "second home" to him. He is seen as one of the brightest prospects in Southampton's academy. On 22 February 2023, Dibling signed his first professional contract. On 18 December 2023, he signed a new contract, keeping him at the club until 2026.
Dibling made his first professional appearance on 8 August 2023 in a 3–1 defeat to Gillingham in the EFL Cup, replacing Jayden Meghoma in the 85th minute. On 13 January 2024, he made his first league appearance for the club in a 4–0 victory against Sheffield Wednesday, coming on as a substitute for Ryan Fraser in the 88th minute.
International career
Dibling has represented England at under-16, under-17 level and under-18 level.
On 17 May 2023, Dibling was named in the England squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.
On 6 September 2023, Dibling made his England U-18 debut during a 2–0 defeat to France in Limoges.
On 2 November 2023, Dibling was included in the England squad for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He scored in their opening group game against New Caledonia.
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 6 February 2024
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Southampton U23 | 2022–23 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||
| Southampton | 2023–24 | Championship | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||