Abdoulaye Doucouré confirms his imminent departure from Everton

On Sky Sports now.

Best wishes for the rest of his career.

Im glad he's not being offered a new deal. Time for us to move on and bring in someone younger with more quality.

And what a goal that was. The best hit of his life when the club needed it most.

Wishing him nothing but the best.

Did he give everything for the shirt? Most definitely.

Thanks for that goal against Bournemouth, Doucoure kid, and the very best of luck in whatever you do in the future👏👏💙

He was offered another contract and refused it. Now I don't know what that was, but I am betting it wouldn't have been a substantial cut. Probably only another season though.

I believe Moyes didn't see him as a regular feature in the side for the forthcoming campaign and, as it's a fair old wage he is picking up, decided the money could be spent better elsewhere, and I would have to agree.

From a footballing point of view, like Onana, I wasn'tt a fan of his. Still not. But he played for us and he will always have my support and best wishes.

On his day, he was great… but sadly too many off days. I'd worry about his commitment had he signed a deal on much reduced terms.

Thanks, Doucoure, best of luck in Saudi.

You could never knock his commitment or his engine. That is why managers will have kept picking him. We've all been there as a player and as a coach.

It is natural to turn to the Bournemouth goal but my most memorable match was away to Brighton in the same season. Edging once again towards relegation and playing against a team that few gave us a chance against.

I had only just taken my seat – well, stood in front of my seat, as no-one sits down at away matches – and he puts us 1 - 0 up after 1 minute. Then bags the second and we are 2 - 0 up on the half-hour. We win 5 - 1 against the so-called odds.

That was as important as Yeri Mina's 99th minute slide in at Wolves to give a point and then obviously Doucoure's winner at Goodison against Bournemouth.

So thank you, Abdulaye. You may not have been the best, but you worked hard and gave it everything. And you are an Evertonian now. It won't leave you.

Trusting his replacement will quickly justify the club's decision not to take up the option of extending Doucoure's contract.

Arguably one of the most limited footballers in terms of natural ability we've ever had, but the fact that we've rarely won when he wasn't playing, shows the impact he had, in the most tumultuous period of our history.

His departure will be softened, no doubt, by the £625,000 he will earn between now and then.

Pretty sure he was more skilful than Oumar Niasse, Brett Angell, Rod Belfitt, Carl Tiler, Terry Darracott… I could go on.

His quality of passing is what let him down but I'm content to remember some of the goals he scored that definitely didn't show any lack of technique.

Good luck, wherever next you go.

He was offered another contract and refused it.

Ah, just seeing that now. The Athletic. So we are to infer that he really did want a pay rise and the club offered him less?

Amazing how that became a meme months ago, if true. It sounded odd to me because players generally get paid more and more, rather than taking a pay cut, which seems to be very rare.

I will miss the Dom Pom Moments and I wish him all the luck in the world.

If the word about turning down a new contract is anywhere near correct, even if it was poor fella say 30K lower, then off he goes, shut the door behind you, no worries, no concerns, no regrets, no feelings at all really to be honest. Just go. Shite as usual in the hour or so he was on the pitch v Saints. Thanks for the odd important goal. Bye. Go and build some sandcastles in Mammon's land.

It was a nice statement recognising the fans, I am certainly grateful for what he has done – especially the Bournemouth goal. Wish him nothing but the best for the future.

Slowly but surely, Everton are releasing players and players are leaving of their own accord which has to be part of the plan for rebuilding a squad fit for the future and the new stadium. Exciting times ahead.

Yes, players do get paid more and more as they get better and better — has Doucoure improved since he came here? I don't think so.

He came had a go but he had more poor games than good ones and now I think he is on the way down so thanks for those goals and the best of luck with your future.

Thanks for the grit and passion Doucs and good luck in what you do.

No shortage of energy, some vital and spectacular goals and critical to our defensive shape even when playing as a pseudo No 10. He contributed very heavily to us staying in the Premier League, but doesn't have the ability to kick us on from here.

Out of those with question marks due to contractual position etc, it looks to me like this (unless someone can update me):

Out of contract (first team)

- Doucoure [Gone]
- Young [Gone]
- Coleman [Player coach role?]
- Gueye [Probably staying?]
- Begovic [Gone]
- Virginia [Gone]
- Calvert-Lewin [in the balance]
- Holgate [Not confirmed but surely gone]

Loaners

- Lindstrom [very unlikely to be retained]
- Broja [could be retained]
- Harrison [could be retained]
- Mangala [very unlikely to be retained]
- Alcaraz [likely to be retained but not confirmed]

Do we go with a smaller thinner squad with our luck for injuries?

I'm counting nine probably ten more likely to go. I can see Harrison getting another year (Moyes likes him; he's a Moyes-type player).

What sort of players can we bring in? Mostly low budget, I imagine, but of course the elephant in the room is we do not know what our budget will be.

Also, Robert, we might need to factor in selling one or two.

I just hope that the first team to grace Everton Stadium will be much better than the one that stumbled around the pitch in Sunday's second half. But that would not be hard, to be honest.

Nor does it bode well that Friedkin's lad chose to watch a meaningless league game in Rome on Sunday rather than hop on a plane for the last ever male first team game at The Old Lady.

Plus Doucoure looks at shlubs like Wijnaldum, Kessie and Malcolm making two and three times his salary in the Saudi League, and how could he resist wanting some of that easy money?

I think Gueye is the big unknown in that list. Arguably our player of the season and I hoped his future might have been clarified by now. Him leaving would leave a big hole.

As for Doucoure, I hope he is remembered fondly. He's probably in the Top 3 or so players responsible for keeping us up over the last few years when we were investing less in our team than most Championship teams.

His work rate and professionalism have been top notch and he is of course entitled to want one last pay day. Hopefully a move that works out okay for both parties as we aim to find a Number 10 with their best years in front of them who is a little more comfortable on the ball.

But, he did have his crazy moments, none worse than the red card and 3-match ban during the crucial run-in to the season end which culminated in that dramatic game against Crystal Palace. I believe he missed that game due to his suspension.

Did anyone see the some might say damage limitation Toffee TV interview he did?

https://youtu.be/2d60jUXCJ4M?si=MDHBY8_TfsBdfqYW

He came across really well, said he was more a 6 or 8 not a 10 but would play anywhere.

I had a feeling he was going on Sunday, from my seat we are really close to the bench and he was visibly upset when he was subbed.

Good luck, Doucs, hopefully we will give Armstrong a chance and sign Charly permanently.

His lack of awareness regarding his worth is staggering. He knows the club haven't got a pot to piss in but wants more than his £130k a week to keep the love of the club!

Let's move on and maybe change our shape a bit. Alcaraz or Ndiaye can play in the role.

Wonder how many pints Derek Knox has had given this news.

I also think his mate Gana might be joining him to be honest.

Hopefully a reset for some positions, but need to keep the younger players.

Wholly applaud the sentiment on Gana. Leading the Premier League in tackles by a wide margin, and the last time I checked, he was leading the top five European leagues as well. Irreplaceable.

Even Gueye.

Forever grateful for that goal against Bournemouth!

"Notice who is always first over to congratulate and celebrate with a team mate when another player scores?"

Now that's a challenge, Ray! I'm going to check every goal for the last three seasons. Shouldn't take me too long.

I'm pretty sure Keane's on that list as well and I expect him to move on as well. Agreed that Holgate will be gone as well. DCL? I expect someone will offer higher wages than we will so I expect him to move on.

Gana the only one on that list that I'd offer another one year deal to based on his performance this season.

There was a rumour alright that he was offered 40K for a year, but turned that down, so he didn't want to play at the new ground that much - who knows he might play there yet if another team offers him a better deal.

Calvert Lewin also isn't going to be offered any improved terms on his current contract, in fact it has to be a lot less in my opinion.
He should head on to wherever and start fresh.
Moyes reckons Beto is going to get better !

I think we will see the new owners make it quite clear this transfer window there will be no more silly contracts handed out to average players - any big money contract will be for players who will make a real difference.

A succinct and accurate comment. As you say Abdoulaye Doucoure had more poor games than good ones and, like you, I feel that situation would probably have deteriorated further in the event his contract had been renewed.

His crucial goal against Bournemouth will, arguably, be remembered realistically, for many years to come, by the vast majority of Evertonians, as preventing what would have been the catastrophe of relegation.

From a personal point of view it is very pleasing to read that the majority of posters recognise, notwithstanding Abdoulaye's limitations, his positive contribution to the club, with only the one unpleasantly negative comment to date

The lad is going, right decision but he could never be accused of not giving his all. And his goal kept us in the Premier League.

And it's 15 goals you need to check.

Is it true Herr Klopp will be managing our sister club next season?

We have finished in 13th spot which isn't too bad considering the poor run of results under Dyche.

Kudos must go firstly to the defense which so far only conceded 44 goals (better than most others) especially after conceding 13 in the first four games and then of course Moyes for steadying the ship.

A lot of work still to be done and of course the Barcodes game which Newcastle have to win to get into Champions league so we cannot expect much up there.

Oliver #55, not when he can get 4-5X that much in the Saudi league.