Southampton FC are set to earn Exeter City's millions this summer through one that got away | OneFootball

Tyler Dibling has been heavily linked with a big-money move to some of Europe's clubs this summer but it's 'what if' for Exeter City.

There's always one that gets away and for Exeter City it might be a big one.

It's not often that the Grecians miss out on hot talents from the Westcountry, even less so players born within the Roman walls of Devon's capital.

But Southampton star Tyler Dibling certainly looks as though he will be the one that got away for Exeter as rumours persist that he's in line for a huge move this summer.

The 19-year-old was born in Exeter and spent time in the Grecians' academy as a young player, featuring for City's under 9s squad alongside current first-teamer Ed James.

He left to join the Saints' set-up in 2014, also spending a short spell at Chelsea along the way, before returning to the south coast and representing England at youth level.

He was a rare shining light for Southampton in their disastrous Premier League campaign in 2024/25 which saw them amass just 12 points.

While Dibling's numbers didn't catch the eye last term, with just two goals and no assists in the top flight from 20 starts and 33 appearances, his quality on the ball and dribbling ability certainly did.

Dibling's transfer suitors

And it's reportedly caught the eye of some of Europe's biggest clubs, who are looking to take advantage of Southampton's relegation with a big money move for the Exonian this summer.

Porto are said to have joined the likes of Tottenham, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Manchester United in the race for the wide man, who The Telegraph says has a whopping £100m price tag.

That seems ludicrous for a player who's scored two top-flight goals, but it is a statement of Southampton's desire to keep hold of him and secure an instant return to the Premier League.

Of course, it's a bargaining chip and Dibling is contracted at St Mary's until next summer with an option of a further year.

Whatever happens to Dibling over the next couple of months, it's clear that he slipped through City's grasp with the Grecians having him in the door during the early stages of his development.

Exeter are used to developing youngsters and having them poached by bigger teams, with local lads Jay Stansfield and Ethan Ampadu being the two most high-profile players to be pinched by Premier League sides for peanuts at the end of their scholarships.

There was, at least, some compensation for the time and effort put into their development and Dibling would undoubtedly have been another if City had managed to convince him to stay in the Westcountry.

Exeter won't get any Dibling money

Whatever fee he goes for, City won't see a penny for his brief stint at the Cliff Hill as solidarity payments are only applicable for players at a club from the age of 12 upwards.

That's fair enough and there will be no complaints from St James Park on that front as Southampton took him on, put the work in, and will rightly reap the rewards.

But there's just that lingering, 'what if?'

If Dibling had stayed at City he would probably have close to 100 professional appearances by now and who knows how he would have turned out and how his career would progress.

We'll never know, but it will be fascinating to see what happens to him this summer and where the rest of his very-promising career takes him.