Everton midfielder signs new long-term contract

Long rumored to be a thing, it has come to light that Idrissa Gana Gueye - perhaps Everton’s best all around midfielder - has signed a new contract to keep him at Everton long term.

One thing, though - Gana signed it in October 2017. According to the FA (PDF), Everton registered Gueye’s new contract on 10/26/17.

Goal.com reports that the deal spans five years and is worth £75,000 per week. If true, that’s a steal for one of the better defensive midfielders in England, particularly viewed in light of the wage packets carried by others, such as Wayne Rooney and Davy Klaassen.

Everton’s midfield has certainly been an issue this season - the form of Morgan Schneiderlin, continued injuries to James McCarthy - but Gueye has, as expected, been a stalwart.

The Senegalese international is second in the Premier League in terms of tackles - behind Wilfried Ndidi but ahead of N’golo Kante - and is nearly guaranteed a starting place at this summer’s World Cup.

The new contract can really only be seen as a good thing for club and player, but the clandestine nature of proceedings does raise some questions.

In the midst of a depressing season, why would the club not want to publicize retaining one of their best players? Wouldn’t managerial candidates liked to have known they could count on the presence of Idrissa Gueye for years to come?

In the end, we may never know what led Everton to simply not announce major roster news. Either way, Gana stays, and that’s what matters.