Ebbrell signed schoolboy forms for Everton aged 12. Everton proposed Ebbrell attend trials for the first intake of the FA/GM National Football School at Lilleshall in 1984. The trials were successful and he went on to captain the England schoolboys teams at various age levels. Shortly after graduating he signed professional forms for Everton in 1986 and was quickly fast-tracked by Howard Kendall to regularly train with the first team squad, resulting in an early first team call-up and then to becoming a regular first team player in the early 1990s. During a difficult decade for the Toffees Ebbrell was part of the Everton squad that reached the 1995 FA Cup Final starting 3 of the 6 matches, but after missing the semi-final through suspension, manager Joe Royle continued with the other two-thirds of the Dogs of War for the final – Barry Horne and Joe Parkinson, and strikers Duncan Ferguson and Daniel Amokachi were chosen to be the outfield subs ahead of Ebbrell.
In 1997 Howard Kendall, then manager of Sheffield United, bought Ebbrell in a £1.2m transfer deal. Ebbrell's career at Sheffield United was blighted by an ankle injury, originally sustained at Everton but deteriorated after surgery during his time at Sheffield United, to the extent that Ebbrell was forced to retire from professional football early in 1999. He made his Sheffield United debut against Reading, but was replaced by Don Hutchison at half time due to injury, meaning he only completed 45 minutes of action in his Sheffield United career. Everton hosted a testimonial match in which Joe Royle provided the opposition in the form of Manchester City, as recognition of Ebbrell's service extending to more than 10 years of top flight football with Everton.
Coaching career
Ebbrell's first post-playing football role was as Chief Scout under David Moyes at Everton, a post Ebbrell held for 3 years before subsequently leaving to pursue a football agency role. Ebbrell co-founded X8 Ltd, a football representation and agency business. In 2002 X8 merged with Proform Sports Management Ltd. The combined agency represented approximately 60 players. Ebbrell resumed his football career when he started coaching at Tranmere Rovers in the 2008–09 season. In July 2010 Ebbrell succeeded Kenny Shiels as Tranmere Rovers' Centre of Excellence Manager. In March 2015 Ebbrell rejoined Everton in an Academy Coaching role. In January 2016 Ebbrell took charge of Everton's Under-18 side as Manager. Ebbrell was appointed Assistant Manager of Everton's under 23 team for the 2016–17 season, winning the Premier League 2 Division 1 title in its first season in u23 format. Everton under 23 team won the Premier League 2 Division 1 title for the second time in three seasons in April 2019.
