Coleman to be retained by Everton while trio will depart this summer

Seamus Coleman looks likely to remain an Everton player for another year but Ashley Young, Asmir Begovic and Joao Virginia will see their time with the Club come to an end at the end of this season.

David Moyes confirmed during his press conference yesterday ahead of tomorrow's game with Southampton, the last ever senior men's fixture at Goodison Park, that the skipper will be retained "one way or another", perhaps as a first-team player, for 2025/26, quelling speculation that he might retire this summer.

Coleman has battled injuries and struggled to remain fit this season and has been restricted to just a handful of appearances and it was thought that he might hang up his boots and transition into a coaching role at Finch Farm.

However, Moyes, who famously signed the Irishman for just £60,000 16 years ago, told the media that Coleman's experience and contribution is vital and intimated that he would be kept on on a new contract.

"Seamus will stay next season," Moyes said. "Without doubt Seamus will be part of the group. I need him here — his leadership, the message he has among the players and in the dressing room is so strong, it would be wrong of me to let him go."

Another veteran, Young, will be leaving, however. The 39-year-old has spent two years at Goodison Park after signing from Aston Villa on a free transfer and it had been thought that he might also be offered new terms.

However, he will leave Everton along with reserve goalkeepers, Virginia and Begovic. Begovic is in his second spell with the Toffees but has not been called upon to play since returning as third-choice keeper.

Virginia, meanwhile, has been on the books since signing from Arsenal's development setup in 2018 and has made eight first-team appearances in that time and kept five clean sheets.

“On behalf of everyone at the Club, I want to thank all three players for their service and we wish them all the very best for the future," Moyes said on evertonfc.com.

“This is a complicated situation in many respects, with so many players out of contract this summer. It’s important to me to speak with all of those players, individually, to give them clarity on their situations.

“Lots of factors influence our decision-making and we’re currently working through that process with the players, which takes time. Some will have clarity by the end of this week, and for others it may get to next week, but it’s important it’s handled in the right way.

“We also have five players on loan and we will let them know their situations in due course.”