Michael Keane signs new long-term Everton contract

Everton defender Michael Keane has signed a new five-year contract at Goodison Park.

The England international put pen-to-paper on a deal over the weekend that will keep him at Goodison Park until 2025.

Speaking about his new deal, Keane said:

I have loved my three years at Everton and am looking forward to seeing what the future holds.

“I am learning every day on the training pitch with the manager and all his staff.

“They have been brilliant and really got across the way they want us to play.

“The manager is one of the best there has been. I am hoping we can kick on this season and make the fans proud again.

“Before lockdown I had a good run of form and, hopefully, I can keep that going into this season and keep improving.

“I am not happy just staying where I am at the minute. I want to keep improving and keep learning. My best years are definitely ahead of me.

“I am working on things every day… striving to get better in every part of my game and, hopefully, I can show that.”

Keane was about to enter the final two years of his original deal on Merseyside, having joined during that giddy summer of 2017 from Burnley for around £25m.

The 27-year-old arrived with a burgeoning reputation after enjoyed a fine campaign with Burnley that saw him shortlist for PFA Young Player of the Year.

However, he struggled replicate that form during his first season at Goodison, though he wasn’t alone, with the team’s form utterly disintegrating under Ronald Koeman.

It later emerged that Keane spent much of the season managing a foot injury which severely impacted on his performances.

His fluctuating form continued the following year, though he ended the campaign strongly and earned a recall to the England squad.

Keane was also one of Everton’s better performers during the restart (not hard, I admit), establishing himself as first choice centre-back alongside Mason Holgate.

With a deal for Lille defender Gabriel seemingly off, he is once again likely to be in the starting line-up when the new season kicks off in two weeks’ time.

Though he has divided opinion at times, Everton are right to tie him down to fresh terms given he is about to enter the final two years of his contract, preserving any transfer value should they decide to cash in.

The fact the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson and Bernard, who are also entering the final two years of their contracts, have not yet signed fresh terms suggests their futures are more uncertain.