That support extends to a friendship that continues to shape him.
Dolan grew up alongside Jeremy Wisten – a team-mate and close friend from his academy years.
“He was the best person you could meet and we did everything together,” says Dolan.
“I knew how much football meant to him and what it did for his soul. He lived and breathed football.”
Wisten and Dolan were seeking scholarships at the same time, but Wisten struggled with injuries and was released by Manchester City.
“It was a crucial time and you needed to be consistently playing,” says Dolan.
“Jeremy kind of knew himself at Manchester City that he wasn’t really going to get a scholarship but he just struggled after that.”
Wisten was 18 when he took his own life at his family home in 2020 – less than two years after the club let him go.
“I think for him it was facing the world knowing that he didn’t have that logo of a footballer,” says Dolan.
“When you’re younger, people don’t even say your name. They say ‘oh, there’s the footballer Tyrhys’ or ‘there’s the footballer Jeremy’. You’re not just a human, you’re a player.
“And once you strip that back, you think ‘well if I’m not that, then who am I?’
“It must have been really tough for him because I know a lot of people around him were doing really well in terms of football, getting the scholarships, getting pro contracts, making debuts – me being one of them.
“It’s difficult to see when someone’s hurting so much and you’re achieving the thing that they want. It was the most heartbreaking moment of my life.”
In Wisten’s honour, Dolan wears the number 24 at Espanyol. When he discovered it was one of only two available squad numbers, he felt it was more than coincidence as it was the date his close friend had died.
“He’s with me,” says Dolan. “He’s achieved his dream. He’s made it because he’s on the pitch just like I am.”
Wisten’s death led Dolan to become an ambassador for the Go Again charity, which supports young footballers dealing with the emotional impact of being released from academies.
Having lived that experience, he wants to offer reassurance and perspective.
“What’s a few minutes of my day?” he says. “It can last a lifetime for them.”
#Tyrhys #Dolan #Espanyol #unbelievable #journey