‘Complicated situation’ – Everton announce three exits ahead of Goodison Park farewell
Robert Calcutt
3 minutes
Everton have confirmed that Ashley Young, Asmir Begovic and Joao Virginia will leave at the end of their contracts.
The Toffees announced the departures with less than 24 hours until they played their final ever match at the iconic Goodison Park.
Young is leaving after after two years
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Young is leaving after after two yearsCredit: Getty
Former Manchester United and Aston Villa defender Young is leaving after two seasons in Merseyside, where he’s made 68 appearances.
He became Everton’s oldest goalscorer ever in December in their 4-0 win over Wolves by netting at the age of 39 years and five months.
Begovic will depart the Toffees following his second stint at the club.
The goalkeeper was originally there from 2021 to 2023 before making his return last summer, but hasn’t added to his ten appearances.
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Virginia left Arsenal for Everton in 2018 and has featured eight times for the club during his Goodison stay.
The Portugal U21 goalkeeper previously had three loan spells with Reading, Sporting Lisbon and SC Cambuur.
Everton manager David Moyes added clarity to the trio’s exits and hinted that there could more departures to follow.
“This is a complicated situation in many respects, with so many players out of contract this summer,” he said in a club statement.
“It’s important to me to speak with all of those players, individually, to give them clarity on their situations.
“Lots of factors influence our decision-making and we’re currently working through that process with the players, which takes time.
Experienced goalkeeper Begovic will also make an exit this summer
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Experienced goalkeeper Begovic will also make an exit this summerCredit: Getty
Virginia will depart after his seven-year stint with the Toffees
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Virginia will depart after his seven-year stint with the ToffeesCredit: Getty
Moyes has offered an explanation on the ‘complicated situation’ at the club
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Moyes has offered an explanation on the ‘complicated situation’ at the clubCredit: Getty
“Some will have clarity by the end of this week, and for others it may get to next week, but it’s important it’s handled in the right way.
“We also have five players on loan and we will let them know their situations in due course.”
Everton host Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday, live on talkSPORT, as they bid farewell to Goodison Park.
It was set to be demolished, but the club have confirmed that it will become the permanent home for their women’s side.
The Toffees have called the stadium home since 1892 but will move to their new £800million venue at Bramley-Moore Dock in Liverpool.
Everton announced on Friday that it will be named the Hill Dickinson Stadium after agreeing a naming rights deal with the law firm.
Fans convinced they’ve spotted hidden detail in Goodison Park that you’ll have missed countless times
There’s a subtle hidden detail built into the stands at Goodison Park and Everton fans are only just seeing it.
The Toffees are leaving Goodison after 133 years to take up residence in their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock later this year.
Everton’s famous old ground will host the men’s team for the final time in Sunday’s Premier League fixture against Southampton before it’s refreshed and retooled as the new, permanent home of Everton Women.
As the long farewell continues, even Everton supporters who regularly attend matches at Goodison have noticed a tiny but beautiful hidden detail that might have passed many of them by.
The detail, subtly built into the Park Stand, is a nod to Everton’s heritage and a tie to the club’s local community in Liverpool.
Perhaps best viewed when the Park Stand is empty, the clever detail is built into the vomitories – yes, vomitories – that spew the Toffees faithful into the seating area on matchdays.
The shape of the steps around the accesses is capped with a pointed yellow safety railing a few rows of seats above.
Combined, they form a representation of Prince Rupert’s Tower, one of the city’s two Georgian lock-up buildings located not far from Stanley Park.
Everton’s association with the tower goes back a long way.
First appearing in the club badge as far back as 1938, it’s been a constant component of the club’s identity since the 1970s.
Its silhouette has replaced the club badge entirely on this season’s away shirt.
Everton’s new stadium (Image: Getty)
Everton’s new stadium (Image: Getty)
“Prince Rupert’s Tower is a village lock-up on Everton Brow which was originally used to hold minor criminals and drunks overnight,” reports The Sun.
“It was saved by Everton in 1997 when they paid £15,000 for the tower to be restored.”
The Toffees moved into Goodison in 1892. Decades later it became the first stadium in England with undersoil heating.
Goodison Park has been the home of a club with nine First Division titles, five FA Cups and a UEFA Cup to its name.
It also hosted five matches at the World Cup in 1966, to date the only time England has hosted the tournament.
