A crunching tackle on Sandro Tonali. Another on Mateus Fernandes. James Garner's performance in Everton's goalless draw at Tottenham on Saturday was impossible to ignore — and it finally got the wider Premier League world paying attention.

Match of the Day pundit Thomas Frank was emphatic in his praise. "Garner today was extremely good," Frank said. "He is aware; he's talking; he's organising. In a high-press situation, he does the recovery, and that's just so exceptional and so important when you are playing against a team who are dominating you."

Frank added: "He was running so hard, so that's one side of his game, but also so important is his touches. He is a lot on the ball. It's through him that a lot of things are happening."

Former Everton defender and fellow pundit Ashley Williams echoed that verdict. "He's really impressive," Williams said. "If you're a centre-back behind him, he's the type of midfielder you want."

From academy graduate to Goodison leader

Garner arrived at Everton from Manchester United in 2022 for an initial fee of just £9m — having never made a Premier League start for United. He had spent the previous season on loan at Nottingham Forest, helping them win promotion to the top flight.

The first two seasons at Goodison Park, under Frank Lampard and then Sean Dyche, were a period of adjustment set against financial turmoil and points deductions. The 2025-26 campaign, however, proved to be a turning point. Garner played all but six minutes of Everton's Premier League season, driving a European push that kept the club in contention for much of the campaign.

A pivotal moment came in December, when a depleted Everton side travelled to Nottingham Forest and won 2-0 to close to within four points of the top four. Garner scored the opening goal in a commanding performance. Manager David Moyes reflected on his growth afterwards.

"When I came in, I still saw a bit of a boy and I think I now see someone who's turning into a really good leader as well, beginning to take a bit more responsibility and grow up and begin to start to act like a real midfield player," said Moyes.

The numbers support that assessment. Garner led Everton's squad in successful passes, tackles, interceptions, assists, and chances created. Crucially, four of his seven assists came after winger Jack Grealish's season ended through injury in January — underlining his ability to step up when his side needed him most.

England's 'mini Valverde'

Those performances earned Garner his first England cap — a friendly against Uruguay in March — where he topped the match for tackles and chances created. England manager Thomas Tuchel drew a striking comparison after the game.

"He's our mini Valverde," Tuchel said, referencing Uruguay and Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde. "He played very, very good. I was quite sure that he will play good because he has this natural confidence and he's just very physical. He won a lot of balls."

Garner missed out on England's World Cup squad, but his physical output remains elite. He covered more ground than any other Premier League player last season — 6km more than England midfielder Elliot Anderson — while also finishing top for tackles and interceptions across the entire division.

An indispensable commodity

A £65m deadline-day bid from Chelsea this summer was rejected by Everton, who had already secured Garner on a contract running until 2030 after he signed a new deal in January. That decision looks particularly significant given the squad constraints Everton now face.

With only 17 fit senior outfield players available — Christian Norgaard and Merlin Rohl sidelined through injury — and the departure of Idrissa Gueye representing a loss of 254 Premier League appearances, Garner's versatility is essential. He has operated at right-back, left-back, and central midfield for Everton, and Moyes has confirmed he can function as a number eight or a six.

If Everton are to mount another push for European football, Garner may well be the most important player on their books.