David Moyes has been appointed Everton manager following the dismissal of Sean Dyche, the Premier League club confirmed on Saturday.

“David is widely recognised as one of the Premier League’s most experienced and accomplished managers, having led Everton for more than 500 matches from 2002 to 2013,” read a statement on the club’s website.

Marc Watts, Everton’s executive chairman, expressed optimism about the move: “We are pleased that David is joining us at this pivotal time in Everton’s history. With over a decade of experience at the club, he is the right leader to propel us through our final season at Goodison Park and into our new stadium. We look forward to working with David to build the foundation of a new era for Everton.”

Moyes himself shared his excitement about the return: “It’s great to be back! I enjoyed 11 wonderful and successful years at Everton and didn’t hesitate when I was offered the opportunity to rejoin this great club.”

The Friedkin Group, Everton’s new owners, made the decision to bring Moyes back just hours after Dyche’s departure on Thursday, despite a 2-0 FA Cup third-round win over Peterborough. Moyes has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract, marking his return to the club 12 years after leaving for an ill-fated stint at Manchester United.

The 61-year-old Scotsman has been out of work since leaving West Ham at the end of last season. His first match in charge will be against Aston Villa on Wednesday in the Premier League.

Moyes remains a popular figure among Everton supporters thanks to his successful 11-year spell from 2002 to 2013, which included a fourth-place league finish in 2005 and an FA Cup final appearance in 2009.

Sean Dyche’s tenure came to an abrupt end following a 3-0 loss at Bournemouth on January 4, with the team securing only one win in their last 11 matches. Everton now sit just one point above the relegation zone, intensifying the urgency of Moyes’ task.

While Graham Potter and José Mourinho were rumored as potential candidates, Moyes emerged as the club’s choice to stabilize the team and prepare for a new chapter at their upcoming Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium.

Moyes’ return also coincides with support from club stalwarts. Former Everton defender Leighton Baines and captain Seamus Coleman, who took interim charge for the FA Cup victory, remain key figures in the club’s current structure.

As Moyes begins his second stint, he faces the dual challenge of steering Everton away from the relegation zone and laying the groundwork for a brighter future.

RELATED: Everton Sacked Manager Sean

Everton have sacked their manager, Sean Dyche, less than two years into his tenure at Goodison Park.

The announcement came just hours before Everton’s FA Cup third-round match against League One side Peterborough.

The club also stated that Under-18s head coach, Leighton Baines, and club captain, Seamus Coleman, would take charge of the team for the match.

The draw for the Emirates FA Cup fourth round will be conducted on Sunday, January 12, 2025, immediately following the highly anticipated clash between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium.

Kick-off for the match is scheduled for 3:00 PM GMT, with the draw expected to begin around 5:00 PM GMT, provided the game does not proceed to extra time. If the match requires additional play, the draw will still take place immediately after the final whistle.

According to a statement on the FA website, the draw will be hosted by Kelly Somers and conducted by Martin Keown and Mark Schwarzer. It will be broadcast live in the UK on BBC One and across official Emirates FA Cup social media platforms.

The introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is expected to begin in the fifth round, reducing the field to 32 teams from the 64 currently competing in the third round.

The ball numbers for the fourth-round draw are as follows:

1. Southampton or Swansea City
2. Arsenal or Manchester United
3. Exeter City or Oxford United
4. Leyton Orient or Derby County
5. Reading or Burnley
6. Aston Villa or West Ham United
7. Norwich City or Brighton & Hove Albion
8. Manchester City or Salford City
9. Millwall or Dagenham & Redbridge
10. Liverpool or Accrington Stanley
11. Bristol City or Wolverhampton Wanderers
12. Preston North End or Charlton Athletic
13. Chelsea or Morecambe
14. Middlesbrough or Blackburn Rovers
15. AFC Bournemouth or West Bromwich Albion
16. Mansfield Town or Wigan Athletic
17. Tamworth or Tottenham Hotspur
18. Hull City or Doncaster Rovers
19. Sunderland or Stoke City
20. Leicester City or Queens Park Rangers
21. Brentford or Plymouth Argyle
22. Coventry City or Sheffield Wednesday
23. Newcastle United or Bromley
24. Everton or Peterborough United
25. Wycombe Wanderers or Portsmouth
26. Birmingham City or Lincoln City
27. Leeds United or Harrogate Town
28. Nottingham Forest or Luton Town
29. Sheffield United or Cardiff City
30. Ipswich Town or Bristol Rovers
31. Fulham or Watford
32. Crystal Palace or Stockport County

The fourth-round draw promises to set the stage for another exciting chapter in this year’s competition.

Manchester City have initiated discussions to sign 18-year-old defender Vitor Reis from Palmeiras during this January transfer window. The Premier League champions aim to strengthen their defense under manager Pep Guardiola for the remainder of the season.

Football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that Man City are leading the race to sign the young center-back, ahead of Brighton and other interested clubs. Romano mentioned that the Premier League side has proposed an initial €40 million package for Reis.

“Manchester City’s pursuit of Vitor Reis is ongoing in Brazil. Talks continue today and over the next hours/days,” Romano posted on X. “The 18-year-old Brazilian center-back is a key target after Brighton and other clubs had bids rejected. Man City are pushing hard with a €40 million package. Deal is in progress.”

Reis has been with Palmeiras since 2016 when he joined at just 10 years old. He made his first-team debut last year and has impressed with his performances.

If the deal goes through, Reis would be a valuable addition to Guardiola's squad, who are currently in 6th place on the Premier League table with 34 points from 20 matches.