It is set to be a huge summer for Everton from whatever angle you look at the club from and this week they have confirmed that midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure’s time at the Toffees will come to an end this summer when his existing contract reaches its natural expiration date.
With goodbyes from the fans to Goodison Park now dealt with and the firm focus moving to their new Bramley Moore Dock home, manager David Moyes will use the off season to prepare for his first year back in charge at the club following his January return, and his first team squad will need a pretty significant rebuild as a number of players are now set to move on.
32 year old Doucoure originally moved to Everton from Watford for a fee of £20 million back in September 2020 and having made 165 appearances since then, he has also scored 21 goals for the side including their memorable winner against Bournemouth on the final day of the 2022/23 campaign when they avoided relegation to the Championship at the death.
Taking to social media to make the announcement, the twice capped Mali international admitted that his five years at the club had been ‘hard’ but he insisted that the spell was ‘wonderful’ and a ‘dream’ for him but now it was time for him to look for a new adventure and to start a new chapter. Naturally he picked out the Bournemouth goal as his ‘best memory’ and he thanked the fans for their support, stating that he would ‘miss’ them.
Doucoure will not be the only departure though, veteran midfielder Ashley Young and goalkeepers Asmir Begovic and Joao Virginia will also be leaving as their deals end. Striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, midfielder Idrissa Gueye, and defenders Michael Keane and stalwart Seamus Coleman have not had their contracts renewed so will also be moving on.
With their 2-0 victory over Southampton in the penultimate game of the current campaign also being the official goodbye to Goodison Park ahead of their Stadium move in the 2025/26 campaign, it was probably fitting that a number of those departing did get minutes on the pitch ahead of officially saying goodbye to the fans following the full time whistle being blown and Doucoure was not alone in looking quite emotional at the send off.
Moyes will sign off the season with a trip to St James Park to face Newcastle United this coming Sunday, and then their relocation to the newly named Hill Dickinson Stadium will take place and fans will be eagerly watching on for news for the names of the players that will be representing them on their new pitch next season.