Born in Ormskirk, Lancashire, Dowell joined Everton's academy at the age of 7.[4] After progressing through the ranks and the reserve side, he signed a scholarship with the club in June 2014.[5] He then scored in a friendly for the Everton U21 side, in a 1–0 win over Rhyl on 26 July 2014.[6]
Dowell made his debut for the club on 11 December 2014, replacing the injured Christian Atsu 11 minutes into a UEFA Europa League group match against FC KrasnodaratGoodison Park. Everton, who had already advanced into the next round, lost 0–1.[7] With his only first team appearances of the season, he signed his first professional contract with the club.[8]
After being given a number 51 shirt in the 2015–16 season, Dowell, however, suffered ankle injury that saw him sidelined for two months.[9] He scored on his return for the Everton U21 on 6 December 2015, in a 3–1 win over Liverpool U23.[10] Dowell went on to score nine more goals for the reserve side, including a stunner against Southampton U21 and a hat-trick against Leicester City U23.[11] On 30 April 2016, he made his Premier League debut as an 87th-minute substitute for Ross Barkley in a 2–1 home win over Bournemouth.[12] Dowell then started the final game of the 2015–16 season against Norwich City at Goodison Park.[13]
Two months after making his Premier League debut, Dowell signed a three-year contract with the club, keeping him until 2019.[14] In the 2016–17 season, Dowell was a member of the Everton U23 squad to win the inaugural Premier League 2 title, in which he made the total of 22 appearances and scoring 5 times.[8] His performance throughout April won him April's Premier League 2 Player of the Month.[15]
On 3 August 2017, Dowell signed on a season-long loan with Championship side Nottingham Forest.[16] He made his Forest debut, coming on as a second-half substitute, in a 1–0 win over Millwall in the opening game of the season.[17] He scored his first goal for Forest in a 4–3 win at Brentford on 12 August 2017.[18] Since making his Nottingham Forest debut, he became a first team regular.[19] Dowell scored again on 30 September 2017, in a 2–1 win over Sheffield United.[20] Four weeks later, on 28 October 2017, he scored his first ever hat-trick, in a 3–2 win over Hull City.[21] After the match, Dowell's performance was praised by local newspaper Nottingham Post and the club's supporters.[22] However, Mark Warburton was sacked as Forest manager on 31 December 2017 and was replaced by Aitor Karanka. Dowell fell out of favour under the new manager and struggled to hold a place in the starting eleven. He played just 59 minutes during the last eight games of the season.[23]
On 28 December 2018, it was announced that Dowell would join Sheffield United as of 2 January 2019 on loan for the rest of the season. On 28 April 2019 United were promoted to the Premier League.[24] The following season, on 11 July 2019, Dowell joined Derby County on a season-long loan.[25] On 3 January 2020, Everton cancelled Dowell's loan to Derby and sent him on loan to Wigan for the remainder of the season.[26] On 14 July 2020, Dowell scored a hat-trick as Wigan defeated Hull City by a scoreline of 8–0; the result was Wigan's biggest victory in club history.[27][28]
On 30 July 2020, Dowell joined Championship club Norwich City on a three-year deal,[29] for a reported fee of £1.5m.[30] He scored on his debut for Norwich in a 3–1 EFL Cup defeat to Luton Town on 5 September 2020.[31] On 1 May 2021, Dowell scored twice as Norwich City defeated Reading 4–1 to secure the Championship title and make an instant return to the Premier League.[32] Dowell scored his first Premier League goal for Norwich City on 16 April 2022 in a 3-2 loss to Manchester United where he also registered an assist to teammate Teemu Pukki.[33] On 21 February 2023, he made his final appearance for Norwich City, starting in a win over Birmingham City, thereafter sustaining a knee injury that ended his season.[34]
On 24 May 2023, it was announced that Dowell had signed a pre-contract agreement to join Scottish Premiership side Rangers.[35] He made his debut for the club, starting the match, in a 1-0 defeat away to Kilmarnock on 5 August 2023.[36] He scored his first goal for Rangers during a league match at home to Livingston on 12 August 2023.[37]
On 7 November 2023, Dowell made an appearance for the Rangers B team in a Scottish Challenge Cup fourth round match at home to Airdrieonians. He started the match and scored the second goal for Rangers in a 4-2 defeat.[38]
After representing England at lower youth levels, Dowell was selected for the England under-20 team for the first time, making his debut in a 1–1 draw against Brazil alongside Everton teammate Dominic Calvert-Lewin.[39] In May 2017, Dowell was selected for the England U20 in the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[40] After setting up two goals in a 3–0 win over Argentina on Matchday 1 of the group stage, he scored the only goal against hosts South Korea, ensuring a place in the second round for England.[41] He also started in the final, in which England beat Venezuela 1–0 for England's first triumph in a global tournament since their World Cup victory in 1966.[42]
Following the end of the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Dowell was called up to the England U21 squad, for whom he made his debut in a 1–1 draw with Netherlands U21 on 1 September 2017.[43]
Born in Ormskirk, England, Dowell grew up supporting Everton, the team he would eventually play for, and idolised Mikel Arteta.[45] While at the academy, he was a ball-boy when he was 14.[46] At 20, he moved out of his parents' house for an apartment.[47]
^, however on 3 January 2020 it was announced by derby that his loan had been cancelled by "mutual agreement” This was down to a very poor showing and sending a shot over the stadium from 18 yards out "Rams land Everton starlet Dowell on Loan". 11 July 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2019.