Everton and Ireland defender, Seamus Coleman, has signed a new deal with his club. The Donegal native has signed a new one-year contract until the end of June 2024.
Coleman signed for Everton from Sligo Rovers in January 2009 for £60,000 and has made 409 appearances since then. The 34-year-old is also the longest-serving player in the Premier League and is just three matches away from surpassing Tim Howard (354) as Everton's record appearances maker in the competition.
There had been speculation around the Ireland captain's future going into the 2023/2024 season because of a season-ending injury, but today that speculation around Coleman's future has ended.
Ireland's captain told evertonfc.com, "Everyone knows how much Everton means to me, which is why it is special to sign this new contract and continue to play for this great club. From the moment I joined more than 14 years ago, the support my family and I have had from our fans and everyone around the Club has been amazing, and I never take for granted just how fortunate I am to represent Everton. That has included the honor of wearing the captain's armband in recent years."
Seamus Coleman will extend his long-serving and hugely-respected #EFC playing career into a 15th season! 💪📝
— Everton (@Everton) June 29, 2023
Everton Chairman Bill Kenwright expressed his delight at the new contract for the Club captain, saying, "The number which always follows every conversation about Seamus is 60,000. But his influence on our football club has been truly immeasurable since we completed the bargain of all bargain-buys way back in 2009. Seamus is an Evertonian, a leader – but even more importantly, he is a sincere and genuine man. We all look to Seamus to set the best example. And he always does – on and off the pitch.
"One of my favorite ever off-the-pitch moments was when Seamus received one of his many End of Season awards. He was asked by host Mark Chapman why he felt he was such a popular player, not only for Evertonians but throughout football. His response was, beautifully, something like, 'I was brought up well by my Mum and Dad. I learned everything from them. Maybe that's why."
"A measure of him to us is that each of Seamus' last two contracts have been signed when recovering from injury, and I am personally delighted he has accepted this latest deal. I've said it often, Seamus Coleman is one of this Club's greatest heroes in its 145-year history."
