View: TFG have surely made mistake on Everton midfielder after latest developments

The Friedkin Group have made a terrible mistake in the Everton deal to sign Merlin Rohl.

The German midfielder joined from SC Freiburg on loan in the summer transfer window and has made just 10 Premier League appearances under David Moyes.

However, the deal included an obligation-to-buy clause worth £17.3million, and in hindsight, that was a fairly foolish move.

Since making the move to Merseyside, he has racked up just 353 minutes in the competition, with injuries stunting his development in L4.

And the fact that he wasn’t brought on in Everton’s 2-0 win over Burnley at the Hill Dickinson Stadium shows that Moyes certainly doesn’t trust him.

• Read more: Merlin Rohl’s Everton future beyond this season looks clear as fresh contract update emerges

Merlin Rohl has been an unused substitute for the past seven games

With the Toffees cruising at 2-0 up against Burnley on Tuesday, it seemed baffling that he wasn’t brought on to have an impact in the game.

The match was already over, and Rohl could have done with a boost in confidence out on the pitch.

That now marks the seventh consecutive game he has been named on the bench but has failed to make an appearance.

While injuries have played a big part, it’s also down to Moyes’ stubbornness in sticking with the same midfield pairing.

Rohl’s injury record:

• 2022-23 – Three games missed
• 2023-24 – Five games missed
• 2024-25 – 19 games missed
• 2025-25 – Nine games missed

Rohl’s last appearance came in the 1-0 win over Aston Villa in January, and he was phenomenal alongside James Garner.

Since Idrissa Gueye’s return from AFCON, the Toffees have dropped points to the likes of Leeds and Bournemouth, raising the question as to why Rohl wasn’t reinstated into the team, at least off the bench.

The Friedkin Group have definitely made a mistake by not signing him on a straight loan with an option to buy him at the end of the season.

They could have assessed his development and then made a decision, but now they are stuck paying a hefty fee for a player that isn’t valued highly by Moyes.

Given Everton’s financial issues, this deal could go down as a waste of money unless Moyes realises how the German midfielder can be beneficial to the side.

• Read more: Everton have backed themselves into a corner with Merlin Rohl after latest David Moyes admission

This is why David Moyes needs to place his faith in Rohl

Rohl is an imposing presence in the centre of midfield, standing tall at 1.91m, and his physicality is exactly what the Toffees need once Gueye leaves.

With all Premier League teams relying on set-pieces more and more, he adds some much-needed height to the starting 11.

The 23-year-old played a huge role for the Germany Under-21 in their run to the European Championship final in 2025 as his country lost out to England.

If he were to start for Everton, Rohl can make more late runs into the box, while Garner’s composure and quality on the ball would complement him well.

Despite having all the necessary attributes to excel, he won’t progress any further until Moyes wakes up and realises that he is capable of playing consistently in the Premier League.

For more in-depth coverage on the Toffees, visit Football Insider.

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