Seasons2016-17Everton News
Trio sign new deals with Everton

Baines has ended any speculation over his future by putting pen to paper on a extension to his current deal that would keep him at Goodison Park until the end of the 2018-19 season.
Barry has agreed a new contract that ties him to Everton until June 2018 by which time he will be 37.
Holgate's new agreement, meanwhile, secures one of the club's most important young players. He has signed on until June 2021.
Manager Ronald Koeman expressed his satisfaction at keeping all three players at Goodison on new terms.
"I'm happy," the Dutchman said. "If I don't see any future for these players they don't sign new contracts"
“With Leighton, his attitude is always perfect. He likes to work hard, he likes to learn, he is a technical player with a good view of the game and I'm really happy to have him in the team this season and also for the longer term.
“Offensively, he's a strong player who can cross the ball well and he has that cleverness in the game and in the moment, a quality that's not in every player. “He's one of the experienced players in our team and what you like to have in your team is a balance in ages in the group.
“Like Leighton, Gareth Barry is a clever player on the pitch. Only Ryan Giggs has played more games in the Premier League and let's hope he will smash every record. He's a quiet person but a strong character. He knows what he can and can't do.
“He is a key player for the team. Of course, sometimes you need to protect older players, with all due respect. Gareth is 35 but he is still so important for the team and I'm very happy he has extended his contract.
“Mason is one of the big talents at the Club. Of course, he started playing this season and did a great job. He can play out of different positions in the team defensively. He was really comfortable when he got his chance in the team. He showed strengths with the football and strengths in defending. He's the future for the Club and other young players like him."
Reader Comments (27)
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4 Posted 16/12/2016 at 21:39:54
Happy with Holgate; okay with Baines; though he needs to raise his game... but us having a 37-year-old player on the books is bemusing.
6 Posted 16/12/2016 at 22:22:46
7 Posted 16/12/2016 at 22:37:20
Barry getting an extension is a poor decision as far as I am concerned. We all saw how much more mobile the midfield was without him the other night and the refs may as well book him in the tunnel before the game starts!
8 Posted 16/12/2016 at 22:43:33
He can come on as a sub. and steady the ship when needed in his last season; okay by me.
9 Posted 16/12/2016 at 22:49:59
10 Posted 16/12/2016 at 23:06:34
He may turn out to be a good coach or manager if he decides to stay in the sport after retirement.
Everton may have decided that there may be additional benefits in the future by offering the extra year, and even if only for 30/45 min he can still bring some stability for the defense.
11 Posted 16/12/2016 at 23:12:03
Let's hope he can get them (too) caring about being good footballers! Total class, again, so let's keep him around for long enough to keep the youngsters on their toes!
12 Posted 16/12/2016 at 23:13:40
13 Posted 16/12/2016 at 23:33:48
Baines... not sure about that one.
14 Posted 16/12/2016 at 23:48:28
As Chris says in #1 above, I would love to see him added to the coaching team when he does finish his playing career.
Nice to see Koeman speak well of Mason Holgate. I just wish we saw more of him on the pitch. His cameo against Man Utd was brilliant. He is looking better every time he plays.
15 Posted 16/12/2016 at 23:54:35
Get him involved on the coaching side of things eventually and it's a win-win situation, I can't see any negative side to this at all.
16 Posted 17/12/2016 at 00:24:34
17 Posted 17/12/2016 at 00:29:17
Our midfield gets over-run when he plays. I don't understand this to be honest other than to keep grumblings in the dressing room to a minimum and hope to maintain morale. The "coaching, model pro" stuff doesn't wash with me.
18 Posted 17/12/2016 at 00:49:28
19 Posted 17/12/2016 at 00:56:08
Connor @ 17 I'm sure he knows he will figure less and less on the pitch but he can be a positive influence off it.
20 Posted 17/12/2016 at 02:01:21
21 Posted 17/12/2016 at 11:24:24
Baines had a decent game against Arsenal. But can he produce again in the derby? And then over Christmas. And then next year. I'm not so sure. He has not been great over the last few seasons. His tackling has not been very good. And he rarely beats the first man with his crossing.(The other night was an exception). One good game ..and he gets a new contract. Some supporters look at Everton players through rose tinted glasses. We are not going to win anything with Barry and Baines Their better days are now well and truely behind them.
Other teams are ruthless ..Everton throw new contracts at players they really should be thinking about replacing. And supporters get all nostalgic. Wait until Barry and Baines are making mistakes. Then watch the venom .And we have them signed up on longer contracts
Happy to see Holgate sign a new contract. He is the future. I really Rate this guy. But I fear that other clubs will also have noticed him. And TBH a contract means not very much to the modern footballer. Supporters harp on about getting good money for our top players should we end up selling. Nonsense IMO. I would rather that we actually kept our better players.(but not those in their mid thirties).
Everton getting top dollar for players does not and should not make one jot to supporters ..its top top players we need to be bring in ,and then holding on to, that should be our concern. Let our board concern themselves with money ..that isn't our problem or concern.
So its one thumbs up from me on these new contracts. And its two thumbs down. I suppose that Jagielka will also be rewarded .and he will then keep one of our many talented young centre backs out for the next few seasons.
Will our youngsters ever get a proper break?
22 Posted 17/12/2016 at 11:33:32
Baines is still suffering the after effects of the injury and operations; I expect him to push on towards the end of the season and get back to his former self.
All good signings for me Barry has obviously got a roll to play when he hangs up his boots.
23 Posted 17/12/2016 at 11:53:13
24 Posted 17/12/2016 at 11:54:14
25 Posted 17/12/2016 at 12:55:04
It's a pity he came to us so late in his career, as he could have become an Everton great... If, and only if, the players he was playing with invested the same amount of sweat as himself.
26 Posted 17/12/2016 at 13:17:45
27 Posted 17/12/2016 at 15:33:11
Given Koeman sees Holgate as part of the future, maybe now he will recall Tarashaj, Galloway and Garbutt to see if they are of a similar level.
28 Posted 18/12/2016 at 13:01:58
Once we are rid of the dross we still carry we may be able to get a decent squad together.At present we are muddling through with about sixteen players of varying degrees of skill to select our eleven from.
29 Posted 18/12/2016 at 14:05:18
Baines is 32 and had a contract to 2018 as it is. Barry is 35 turning 36 in Feb. Why could the club not wait till nearer the end of the season for any extension talks? Baines especially has been pretty poor last two seasons and Barry's nearing pension age.
Regardless of his contributions to the club so far, no-one can seriously think that Barry is going to be a regular on the pitch after this season - if they do then we're in more trouble than I thought!
The club don't seem to learn at all. Extensions given to Neville, Howard, Hibbert, Osman, Gibson all spring to mind in the last 5 years alone. Millions wasted.
I'm convinced there is something dodgy in some of these extensions to aged players. Just seems very odd.
Barry's contract now runs until he's 37, ffs, and he'll take up a place in the squad someone else could have gotten next season. At least Holgate is signed up. The rest is money for old rope.
30 Posted 18/12/2016 at 15:25:29
Kenwright's still doing the cheaper option as far as the squad goes, that's why Gibson was kept on, Kone's still here and McGeady will be back soon I bet... wouldn't be surprised if both get extensions.
I just don't understand the Barry or Baines extensions other than it's short-term money saving.
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1 Posted 16/12/2016 at 20:56:32
I expect Barry to play a little less and maybe move into a coaching role. He is an outstanding professional and a credit to the sport, but I certainly can't see him running the midfield next season.