Harry Diamond 21/08/2026 28comments  |  Jump to last

(Photo by Jess Hornby/Getty Images)

James Tarkowski has said it is an honour to be named Everton captain for the 2026-27 season and said the club must be 'right up there battling with the best'.

Tarkowski has been named as the new captain of Everton, replacing Seamus Coleman following the long-serving Irishman's exit this summer. The centre-back led the Toffees throughout much of Coleman's absence in recent seasons and now takes the armband on a permanent basis.

Ahead of Everton's opening fixture against Crystal Palace tomorrow, Tarkowski expressed his pride in his first official captain's notes.

"I have to start by expressing what an honour it is to lead this team," the defender said.

"To play for a massive club like Everton is special enough but to follow in the footsteps of some legendary names as captain means a huge amount to my family and me and it is truly one of the proudest moments of my career.

"I’ve had the fortune of being led at Everton by an outstanding captain in Seamus Coleman. So many people in football rightly acknowledge what an inspirational leader he is and, while I’m fully aware of the big task it is to follow on from him, I know it’s important to continue the high standards Seamus set day in and day out, and ensure everyone appreciates what it means to represent Everton.

"That includes new signings and, as well as welcoming back Merlin and Tyrique this summer, we were pleased for our squad to be strengthened by the arrivals of Hayden, Christian and Brennan.

"All of them have settled in well and we are looking forward to everyone throughout the squad having a part to play as we look to kick on this season.

"I feel we definitely made progress last term. It was an important first campaign here at our magnificent stadium, with new ownership and a lot of new faces, and I think the whole feeling around the Club changed over the season.

"It was a big disappointment to finish 2025-26 as we did and miss out on Europe – but there was so much good work for us to build on this time around.

"Like everyone connected with Everton, I want this club to be right up there battling with the best. It’s where we should be. We’ve been through some tough moments during my time here but there’s a totally different feeling around the place these days and we have every reason to be optimistic about the direction we are heading in."

 

Reader Comments (28)

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Andy Meighan
1 Posted 21/08/2026 at 12:32:50
There goes the Branthwaite - O'Brien partnership many have mooted then.

Absolute joke, he's a year older and a year slower.
Paul Hewitt
2 Posted 21/08/2026 at 12:42:51
I really fear Jake O'Brien will want a move if he doesn't get much game time this season.
David West
3 Posted 21/08/2026 at 12:44:25
He's been good for us when we needed to dig in, backs to the wall, 11 men behind the ball, kick it long they're his strengths, his commitment is a given, but we no longer want to be that team, I know I don't want to see us play that way.

He's been found out over and over when we've tried to be more attacking, defend higher and play from the back.

Just hope the drop off he had last year doesn't continue or increase this year because he's first choice on the team sheet now !
Andrew Merrick
4 Posted 21/08/2026 at 12:49:47
This was the time for change... disappointing appointment by Moyes.

I have no wish to disrespect the servant Tarkowski has been, but this sets the wrong mood and sends the wrong message.
Mike Allison
5 Posted 21/08/2026 at 13:04:12
Not in our strongest XI.

Maybe a good club captain but, if this is a sign that Moyes isn't going to pick our best team, then it just kind of adds to the general pessimism.
Sean Herbert
6 Posted 21/08/2026 at 13:05:05
Not the right decision as far as I am concerned. He has done a decent job for us over the years but it's time to start phasing him out.

He looked like he was slowing down last season, so little chance of improvement there.
John Keating
7 Posted 21/08/2026 at 13:06:14
Club captain and team captain not necessarily the same.

Just because he's been named club captain dosen't necessarily mean he plays every game.
Andy Meighan
8 Posted 21/08/2026 at 13:06:41
I've said it time and time again:

Moyes hates Evertonians.
Mark Ryan
9 Posted 21/08/2026 at 13:10:15
You all sound surprised. He'll be Moyes's first pick every game.

Why are you all so surprised? It's Moyes, David Moyes. We know him inside out.

Tarkowski is his voice of reason in the dressing room. This is so typical of Moyesaurus.
John Charles
10 Posted 21/08/2026 at 13:12:07
Exactly the same as having Coleman as our club captain for the last few seasons.
Past his best and shouldn’t be near the first 11.
I personally would have liked to take a younger approach but can’t remember such a negative reaction to Coleman being captain - but maybe I am wrong.
Lewis Barclay
11 Posted 21/08/2026 at 13:21:15
Paul @2 - don’t worry O’Brien will be playing at right back for every game.
Minik Hansen
12 Posted 21/08/2026 at 13:30:39
John #7 agreed, only one way to find out.

I think this role'll do Tarky good on his form on the pitch. More motivated n'all.
John Keating
13 Posted 21/08/2026 at 13:40:12
That's right, Minik. There is a difference in the dressing room as opposed to on the pitch and, by all accounts, Coleman was the best example of it.

It's great being the Captain and wearing an armband but there should be lots of captains on the pitch at Premier League level.
Denzil Havana
14 Posted 21/08/2026 at 13:41:45
Who else... Pickford?

Tarkowski is not a leader.

Seamus led by example -- I wouldn't want many players following his example.
Alan Edwards
15 Posted 21/08/2026 at 14:01:22
I can't believe that we havent kicked a ball yet and we have so many negative supporters. Yes, we have been through dark days, but give this team a chance.

For me, Tarkowski deserves the Club Captain armband, he's a leader. Have faith, I can only see us improving from previous seasons.
Clive Rogers
16 Posted 21/08/2026 at 14:10:29
His lack of pace became obvious towards the end of last season. He is 34 in November and should be being phased out.
Christy Ring
17 Posted 21/08/2026 at 14:16:44
I'm disappointed but definitely not surprised that Tarky is captain, it's Moyes we're talking about, completely conservative. James has been a brilliant servant, especially on a free, but he made mistakes last season, and is slower, and because of that we're playing deeper, and less offensive because we're not further up the pitch. I just hope he isn't guaranteed his place, just because he's captain.
Darren Hind
18 Posted 21/08/2026 at 14:21:30
Captains are unceremoniously dropped when they are finished at other clubs.

Not here. Seamus revisited.
Joe McMahon
19 Posted 21/08/2026 at 14:32:50
Christy, I share your concerns, he is also a walking red card. His tackle on Richie when playing for Burnley was outright thuggery.

However Premier League multi Millionaires are certainly not servants.

Apologies for being nit picky, its just they are extremely well paid for a part time job, that is life changing. And our lot achieve bog all for Everton.
Rob Williamson
20 Posted 21/08/2026 at 14:37:43
Disappointed but not surprised. If he were to be a non- playing Captain like in the Ryder Cup then I could accept it but we know that Moyes doesn’t do that. He will be first name on the team sheet and therefore affecting our whole approach - stay deep, play long, have our midfield knackered because of the space they have to cover…. so bloody boring and predictable. And if I ever see a central defensive pairing of Tarkowski and Keane, I might stop taking my cancer tablets!
ps and who knew about Norgaard’s groin operation FFS?
Steve Jones
21 Posted 21/08/2026 at 14:41:56
Lets be clear on this Club Captain is not team captain for every game - I hope this is a break out year for JOB and JB partnership.

We know there have been errors last time out - think he was carrying a back injury which had to be managed. We know he cant play a high line perfectly, his calmness on the ball, playing through the lines etc.

We know he is better with JB partner - rather than MK.

However that said Tarks made a number of diving saves to cover MK earlier on - especially at Anfield.

His stats show he contributes more defensively than any other player we have.

First Clearances
Top Premier League Clearance Leaders (2025/26)
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) – 308 total clearances
Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace) – 281 total clearances
Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth) – 281 total clearancesJames Tarkowski (Everton) – 268 total clearances
Joachim Andersen (Fulham) – 257 total clearances
Maxime Estève (Burnley) – 238 total clearances
Nikola Milenković (Nottingham Forest) – 236 total clearances
Pascal Struijk (Leeds United) – 230 total clearances

Now Total Blocks
Top Premier League Block Leaders (2025/26)
James Tarkowski (Everton): 52 blocks
Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth): 47 blocks
Nathan Collins (Brentford): 41 blocks
Nikola Milenković (Nottingham Forest): 36 blocks
Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal): 34 blocks

Top Centre-Back Aerial Metrics (2025/26 Season)
Virgil van Dijk Liverpool 174 - 75.4%
James Tarkowski Everton 147 - 71.0%
Sepp van den Berg Brentford 140 - 66.0%
Ibrahima Konaté Liverpool 115 - 73.1%
Marc Guéhi Manchester City 65.19%
William Saliba Arsenal—59.1%

So let's have a balanced perspective - he is a good leader as well and provides strength and consistentcy. The future is JOB/JB pressing higher up the pitch - Yes and keeping possession - but lets not throw baby out with the bath water.
Bill Whity
22 Posted 21/08/2026 at 14:45:52
Why not Dewsbury-Hall or Jimmy Garner?

Keane vice-captain.
Dave Abrahams
23 Posted 21/08/2026 at 14:53:51
His first two seasons for us he was very good and he was a very captain who led by example, fought for every ball, never hid or rolled away from shots but faced them head on.

He didn’t have a great season last year and if he carries on like that then I’ll have to agree with the majority of the posts on here now.

I think he was played too early last season after his hamstring injury because of Branthwaite’s injury and that, to me, was the reason Tarkowski had a bad season, so I’ll be looking to see if James has a better start to the season and carries on that way.

If not we’ll James has got another two seasons after this!
Gregory Shaw
24 Posted 21/08/2026 at 17:25:54
At the end of the day, Coleman was club captain and didnt play much. It means nothing nowadays, if he Tarkowski isn't playing well enough, Dewsbury Hall will probably be captain, or Branthwaite.
Rob Hooton
25 Posted 21/08/2026 at 23:29:34
Steve J, thanks for those stats and balance, very interesting indeed.

As a Sunday league centre back I loved Jagielka and tried to copy his way of playing, I think that Tarkowski has a lot of similar qualities and that he is a natural leader.

He seemed to be playing through injuries last season and I think we’ve been defensively sound when he and Branthwaite have played together, so let’s hope they are both fit and on form as I think they are a solid partnership and complement each other nicely.

Tarkowski plays the game firm but fair IMO, usually with a smile on his face which I like. I think he’s the best choice for captain right now, a more committed man you won’t see on the pitch this year.
Sean Kearns
26 Posted 21/08/2026 at 23:38:43
Maybe a back 3 this season? Have a fucking go ffs
Don Alexander
27 Posted 21/08/2026 at 23:51:59
God only knows whose decision this was (and even He'd struggle to understand what goes on off the pitch at OUR club) but I am less than chuffed about it.

To me, a younger more adventurous, eye-catching player should be the skipper and as far as I'm concerned KDH would be my pick.

Tarks will back anything Moyes tries to dictate. KDH might just effect positive changes on the pitch, but that would never do for Moyes of course.
Paul Griffiths
28 Posted 22/08/2026 at 03:37:22
A 'natural leader' does not blame others for his mistakes. I suspect that Tarkowski and Jordan P do not swap xmas cards.

There's a sort of watery distinction I suppose between Club and pitch captain. But Tarkowski was match captain last season and he will be for this one.

It will be him and Branthwaite at the back when Jarrad fits in his 17 appearances.

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