Everton

James Tarkowski

A defender who wants contact, meeting crosses inside his own penalty area, throwing his body in front of shots, and treating every aerial duel as a personal argument he intends to win. Nothing about his defending is subtle and none of it needs to be.
England Everton DEF
Appearances
4
Tackles won
8

Season Snapshot

Minutes played
360
90.00 per match
Tackles won
8
Interceptions
10
Clean sheets contributed
16
as defensive proxy

Season Stats

Appearances
4
Minutes played
360
Tackles won
8
Interceptions
10
Clearances
16
Blocks
3

League Rankings

Among Premier League 2026/27 defenders

Tackles won
3rd of 111
Interceptions
1st of 112
Clearances
30th of 130
Blocks
25th of 79
🍀 Lucky Table #17 of 72
🎯 Pass Masters #41 of 396
💪 Workhorses #77 of 252
👻 Ghost Players #159 of 252
👑 Assist Kings #210 of 238
😈 The Bad Boys #289 of 297

Upcoming Everton Fixtures

Play along with Tarkowski on the Match Bingo app
img Premier League
EVE
EVE
14:00
Sat 19 Sep
IPS
IPS
img Premier League
HUL
HUL
13:00
Sun 11 Oct
EVE
EVE
img Premier League
EVE
EVE
11:30
Sat 17 Oct
CHE
CHE
img Premier League
ARS
ARS
14:00
Sat 24 Oct
EVE
EVE
img Premier League
NEW
NEW
20:00
Mon 2 Nov
EVE
EVE

James Tarkowski, The Defender Who Wants Contact

A centre half who solves problems by attacking the ball first and asking questions about positioning later.

Tarkowski defends in front of himself, stepping out to meet the ball rather than dropping off and hoping the danger passes on its own. The header he wins under his own crossbar is the same header he wins on the halfway line, delivered with an identical lack of hesitation. Blocking is the other habit, because he puts his body in the way of shots that most defenders would instinctively turn away from.

The obvious risk is that a defender who steps forward is a defender who can be spun, which is why the pace behind him matters enormously to the way Everton set up. Get the timing right and the attack dies before it has properly started. Get it wrong and there is a great deal of open grass to cover. He accepts that trade every week because playing any other way would make him worse.

The Rest Of The Squad

22 players

Goalkeepers

1
Jordan Pickford
England · Age 32
4 apps
12
Mark Travers
Age 27
0 apps
31
Tom King
Age 31
0 apps

Defenders

4
Jarrad Branthwaite
Age 24
4 apps
16
Vitalii Mykolenko
Age 27
4 apps
15
Jake O'Brien
Age 25
1 app
5
Michael Keane
Age 33
0 apps

Midfielders

45
Harrison Armstrong
Age 19
4 apps 1a
30
Hayden Hackney
Middlesbrough · Age 24
4 apps 1a
37
James Garner
Age 25
4 apps
8
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Age 28
4 apps 1g
10
Jack Grealish
Age 31
3 apps
34
Merlin Röhl
Age 24
3 apps
2
Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Age 29
2 apps 1g
24
Charly Alcaraz
Age 23
2 apps
23
Christian Nørgaard
Arsenal · Age 32
0 apps
81
Harvey Foster
Age 19
0 apps

Forwards

22
Brennan Johnson
Crystal Palace · Age 25
4 apps
11
Thierno Barry
Age 23
4 apps 1g
19
Tyrique George
Age 20
4 apps 1g
58
Braiden Graham
Age 18
0 apps
20
Tyler Dibling
Age 20
0 apps
View all posts
Bingo • Tom Davis • September 4th, 2026

Match Bingo Game Modes Explained

There are three game types on Match Bingo and they behave less alike than they sound. Live Games follow a real fixture as it's played. Bingoals swaps the fifteen events for fifteen teams and needs every one of them to score. Quick Games run every few minutes on football from last season, so there's nothing to wait for.
Football News • Tom Davis • September 1st, 2026

Does a New Signing Change Anything on Your Match Bingo Card?

Deadline day comes and goes and your card stays exactly as it was. Match Bingo cards are built from things that happen in a match, goals and corners and fouls, rather than from the players who make them happen. No name on a teamsheet reaches a single square. Here's what a signing does change, and what it doesn't.
Bingo • Tom Davis • August 31st, 2026

Is Match Bingo Safe? Licensing, Fair Play and Player Protection

Two things usually sit behind that question: whether the company is real and regulated, and whether the game itself can be got at by somebody sharper than you. Match Bingo is operated by RTSB Limited under Gambling Commission account 51467, which takes about a minute to check. The second answer is duller: there's nothing to press.
Bingo • Tom Davis • August 28th, 2026

What Is Football Bingo?

A card holds fifteen things that can happen in a football match, and each square marks itself the moment its event happens in the fixture you've chosen. You buy before kick-off, then you go and watch the game. Complete a horizontal row of five before anybody else and you take the fixed prize for that tier.
Weekly Round Up • Tom Davis • August 27th, 2026

This Week on Match Bingo: Premier League and Championship, 28 to 31 August

A Friday night opener, a full Saturday, and Villa against Arsenal alone on the Monday.
View all posts

James Tarkowski: The Defensive Warrior

Everton’s box commander, built on headers, blocks and leadership through contact.

Tarkowski defends like he takes it personally. He attacks crosses, throws himself into blocks, and competes for every header with the kind of aggression that makes forwards lose patience. Everton often live in tight margins, and Tarkowski is one of the main reasons those margins don’t collapse, because he thrives in the ugly phases where games are decided.

He also leads. He’s loud, organised, and always demanding concentration from those around him. In Moyes-style football, where structure and effort matter, Tarkowski fits perfectly because he embodies both. He’s not the cleanest on the ball, but he’s the defender you trust when you need to protect a lead, survive a storm, and come out with points.

All things Everton

See more stats for Everton players

Everton

Jake O’Brien

Idrissa Gueye

100% Deposit Match Bonus For New Players

Eligible new players get a 100% matched deposit bonus when they deposit £20 or more.

18+. New GB customers only. One per customer/household/payment method. Min deposit £20. Bonus credit can't be withdrawn, winnings can, no wagering requirement. Making a withdrawal or claiming another deposit bonus will cancel any unused bonus credit. Bonus expires 14 days from claiming. Please gamble responsibly. GamCare.org.uk. Full T&Cs apply.

Updated after the match on . Next update after the fixture on .

18+

You must be over 18 years old to gamble. Please gamble responsibly and in moderation — see our Responsible Gaming page. RTSB Limited is licensed and regulated in Great Britain by the Gambling Commission under account number 51467.