Vitalii Mykolenko has signed a new three-year contract at Premier League club Everton, committing his future until 2029.
The Ukrainian defender joined the Toffees in 2022 from Dynamo Kyiv and his contract was previously set to expire at the end of the season.
He would have become a free agent on July 1, but has now agreed toe extend his stay at the Merseyside club and will now be able to add to his 157 appearances for the club.
“I feel excited to sign this new contract – very excited and proud”, Mykolenko said.
“I remember the first message I received from Seamus [Coleman] when I signed in 2022. I remember reading it and thanking him for welcoming me. He gave me that confidence immediately that I’m in a proper family here.
“In the first few years of my time here we were struggling, but our team, as a family – every person in the building gave everything to get through it. What we have now is stronger and we are getting better every season.
“For me, it’s most important to feel confident and feel comfortable in the environment and I have that here, so I’m really happy”, the Ukraine defender added.
Mykolenko also expressed gratitude to head coach David Moyes and is hoping to help the club achieve success in the coming years.
“Since the manager [David Moyes] came in, I think we are building up. He’s a very good person, which is important for me and, as a manager, he gave me freedom on the pitch”, the 27-year-old continued.
“It’s been a good journey for me so far and now I think we are taking steps in the right direction to get higher and higher in the table. Next season, we want to finish much higher.
“I like to have realistic dreams… winning a trophy or maybe a European trophy, as some other teams have done in the past few years. Individually, just to play every single game, and be consistent as Jimmy [Garner] was this season. That was a good example for me because of how brilliant and how consistent he’s been. I like that and want to achieve it, too”, Mykolenko concluded.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
