Michael Keane

Key strength: Aerial dominance

Defensive anchor

In a turbulent season that sees Everton languishing in 12th place amid a concerning run of form, Michael Keane stands as a beacon of dependability. The 33-year-old England international has been a virtual ever-present, racking up 31 appearances and logging nearly 2,500 minutes—a remarkable feat in a crowded centre-back rotation featuring James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite. Keane's three goals this campaign highlight his enduring threat from set-pieces, while his solitary yellow card across all those minutes speaks to the intelligence and discipline that define his game. At a modest £4 million market value, Keane offers Sean Dyche precisely the kind of veteran composure and aerial dominance his system demands. As the Toffees navigate choppy waters with just one win in their last five, Keane's unflashy reliability—the quiet marshalling of defenses, the organizational voice—provides the foundation upon which Everton must rebuild. In a squad where consistency has been scarce, the former Burnley man remains exactly what Dyche needs: a defender who shows up, every single week.