- Vitalii Mykolenko has signed a new deal with Everton.
- His new contract now expires in June 2029.
- Ukrainian has been with the Toffees since January 2022.
Vitalii Mykolenko has extended his contract at Everton, with his new deal now running until June 2029, according to Fabrizio Romano.
After arriving from Dynamo Kyiv in January 2022, the left back has been a starter for the Toffees and has not dropped out of that role since.
He has played under four managers during his time on Merseyside, along with helping the club navigate their way through multiple relegation battles.
Now he has extended his time at Hill Dickinson Stadium, what does the future hold for Mykolenko and his club?
Will Vitalii Mykolenko maintain his starting position?
Everton will upgrade their defensive options in the summer, and a left back is reportedly on their shortlist.
Since Mykolenko arrived from Ukraine, his starting role on the left side of defence has gone unchallenged, and this is a large reason why he has been one of the club’s main defenders.
The addition of Adam Aznou last summer was hoped to bring competition for the Ukrainian, but it appears the Moroccan is not in Moyes’ plans, which indicates a new left back will be needed at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
By signing an extension that runs up until 2029, this spotlights that Moyes sees Mykolenko in his long-term plans, and the 26-year-old is going to remain the primary left back at the club.
Vitalii Mykolenko is a reliable option for David Moyes
It is hoped that a new left back is brought in to challenge Mykolenko, as having no internal competition is not good if the Scotsman wants to maintain standards in his side.
The Ukrainian international is limited in his attacking play, yet he has shown his willingness to help Everton in the final third of the pitch.
But with just one assist to his name this season, it is clearly not a strength of his.
This, however, does not mean Mykolenko has little use in the squad, and one of his defining attributes is his availability.
He has played in four full seasons for the Toffees and has registered over 30 league appearances in three.
Granted, this is not a glamorous stat, but it highlights a player who has ideal match fitness, which gives Moyes a reliable first-team option.
A new left back is certainly needed at Everton, but the extension of Mykolenko’s contract is a shrewd move by the club as they must focus on stregnthening squad depth.
