Seamus Coleman will leave Everton in the summer, ending a 17-year stay on Merseyside in which he established himself as one of the club’s modern-day greats.
The right-back has not decided whether to carry on playing elsewhere or to retire and take up the offer of a place on Everton’s coaching staff.
Coleman, who turns 38 later this year, has captained Everton since 2019 and holds the club record for their most Premier League appearances, with 372.
The Republic of Ireland international has a status as one of the greatest bargains in the Premier League era, costing Everton just £60,000 when he joined from Sligo Rovers in 2009 – a fee celebrated in their fans’ song about him.
But while Coleman has had a huge influence off the field in recent seasons, he has been limited to just three top-flight appearances this year in another injury-hit campaign.
Everton are expected to look for a right-back in the summer transfer market but if Coleman appears in either of their final two games of the season – at home against Sunderland or away at Tottenham – he will move ahead of the club’s record scorer Dixie Dean and his former teammate to take 10th place in their all-time appearance list, with 434 in all competitions.
Coleman, who was named in the PFA team of the year in 2013-14, was the only player to appear for Everton in both David Moyes’ first and second spells as manager and also had one game in joint caretaker charge himself after Sean Dyche left Goodison Park.
He said: “After more than 17 years at this great football club, I’ve decided this season will be my last as a player here.
“I want to thank the fans for their unbelievable support. You’ve helped me in more ways than you could imagine. I’ve always tried my best to put Everton Football Club first and you all mean the world to me. I live in the city – I see you all daily – and I’ve taken your love of the football club back into the dressing room to explain to the lads how much Everton means to the people.
“I also thank my managers, teammates and all the staff at Everton. They’ve seen me happy, sad, angry, emotional, but the greater cause has always been Everton. Thank you for making me a better captain and teammate. It’s an incredible football club with incredible people.
“Obviously, after such a big decision, I want to have some time over the summer to focus on what’s next for me and my family. My love for Everton is something you all know about – and I’ve got a huge love for Ireland as well.
“The club have been unbelievable with me. They’ve offered me an opportunity to stay on at the club. The manager and staff have been great, and I think with it being such an important decision over my future, I’m going to take a nice, long holiday and look back on what has been an amazing time as an Everton footballer.”
Coleman arrived from the League of Ireland and had a spell on loan at Blackpool before establishing himself in the Everton side.
He added: “Coming over here as a 20-year-old from Sligo Rovers to a reserve team, I was just hoping to impress enough to get on the bench. To think I’ve gone on to make the most Premier League appearances for Everton and to become captain of this great football club – it was beyond my wildest dreams.
“This will always be my football club. I’m glad I’ve been here for so long that I can say I have a team that I will support for the rest of my life. My family, here and back in Ireland, are Evertonians for life. There’s something special about that, knowing in the years to come we’ll still always be supporting Everton.
“This will always be my club. Thank you for letting me be part of it for more than 17 years.”
