Ashley Young says it was “a no-brainer” to sign a one-year contract extension to keep him at Everton until the end of June 2025, while hailing the spirit of the current Blues’ dressing room as one of the strongest he has ever experienced.
The versatile veteran was Sean Dyche’s first signing as Blues boss last summer and became the Club’s oldest-ever outfield debutant at 38 years and 34 days before going on to make a total of 34 appearances in various wide roles last season.
Young, who has 39 England caps in a career that has seen him win the Premier League, Serie A, the FA Cup and the Europa League, scored his first-ever goal for the Toffees in a 3-0 EFL Cup victory over Burnley last November and quickly became a key figure in Dyche’s squad that made significant on-pitch improvements last term.
“It was a no-brainer for me to sign again,” Young told evertontv. “I spoke to the manager before the end of the season. He asked me what I wanted to do, if I wanted to stay, and straight away I said yes because I loved my time here. Kevin [Thelwell] was the same.
“The size of the Club, the staff, the players and, of course, the fans, who have been excellent… I loved my time here last season. We had ups and downs but I can see how big the Club is and where the Club wants to get to.
“I want to be a part of that.
“I’d put it up there with the best dressing rooms I’ve been in, with the best team spirit. There’s a bond there. You can tell players have been here for a while, players who have played under the manager, players who know the Club – just a real togetherness. Everybody is so close-knit, not just players but staff, as well.
“You feel that from the minute you walk in in the mornings to the time you leave. You feel that when you go to Goodison Park and when you’re with the fans. There’s a proper connection. I looked at that week [in April] and you heard how loud the fans are all the time. It was just something incredible. It was fantastic to be involved in.
“The way the Club and the players took me in straight away from day one – I’ve just loved my time here.
“I’d already said about two months into the season that if there was an opportunity to stay for longer then I definitely would because it’s a tremendous place to be.”
Young’s 453 Premier League appearances date – having previously enjoyed successful spells with Watford, Aston Villa and Manchester United – is the 22nd most in the competition’s history, with a place in the top 20 of the list a possibility heading into next campaign.
As well as being part of the England team that reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2018, Young also won a Serie A title with Inter Milan in 2020/21.
After extending his stay with the Blues to be part of the Club’s final-ever season at Goodison Park, he continued: “I’ve always said that age is just a number. I’m determined – I’ve still got the hunger, I’ve still got the belief to go out and put in performances and play at the highest level. I know my body – you start to learn about what you do and don’t need. If anything, I feel fitter than maybe I did at 21 years old.
“It means a lot to be playing here for the final year at Goodison. I think it’s going to be emotional for a lot of people. We want to make history and be part of a memorable season to look back on.
“I think the impact the manager’s had on the Club as a whole has been fantastic. We came through a couple of tough periods last season. The team spirit and togetherness that we showed to get us not only through that but, if you take off the points deductions, to see where we finished in the table.
“We can take the positives from that and we want next season to be better again.”
Manager Dyche, who captained Young when they were teammates at Watford, said: “We’re pleased to have secured Ashley’s future for next season. His qualities – both on and off the pitch – meant he was an important figure for us.
“He’s someone I’ve had the pleasure of knowing for many years and his depth of experience, leadership and versatility will undoubtedly help us again heading into next season.”
Director of Football, Kevin Thelwell, added: “Extending Ashley’s stay with us was a relatively straightforward process because all parties were keen to get it sorted.
“He will continue to make a significant contribution, both on the pitch with his performances and also helping to guide many of our younger players in the squad.”
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