Leighton Baines, Gareth Barry and Mason Holgate have agreed new contracts with Everton.
Baines, the 32-year-old left-back, had been in discussions over a new contract at Goodison Park since the summer and has agreed a contract until June 2019. Barry, the former England midfielder, has signed an extension until the summer of 2018. Only Ryan Giggs has made more Premier League appearances than the 35-year-old, who joined Everton from Manchester City in 2014.
Meanwhile Holgate, the England Under-21 defender who joined the club from Barnsley last year has also extended his contract, signing a new four-and-a-half year deal.
“Players like Leighton, Phil Jagielka and Gareth Barry are leaders in our dressing room and on the pitch,” Ronald Koeman, the Everton manager, said. “For younger players, they are a little bit like teachers. They have that experience and young players need to listen to them for they will learn.
“Mason is one of the big talents at the club. Of course, he started playing this season and did a great job. He can play out of different positions in the team defensively. He was really comfortable when he got his chance in the team.”
Baines was in the final year of his previous contract – signed after Everton had resisted approaches from Manchester United – and Koeman was keen to keep such an experienced player at the club.
The former Wigan Athletic defender has been hindered by injury in recent seasons, notably a serious ankle problem, but remains Everton’s first-choice left-back and recently regained his place from Bryan Oviedo.
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