Everton departure ‘no longer a foregone conclusion’ for Dutch international, here’s why
Britain Football Soccer - Everton v Chelsea - Premier League - Goodison Park - 30/4/17 Everton's Maarten Stekelenburg Reuters / Phil Noble Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
According to the Guardian, Maarten Stekelenburg was expected to be released by Everton this summer, but his departure is ‘no longer a foregone conclusion’.
The 37-year-old is out of contract at the end of June, but he might be forced to stay another month because Jonas Lossl is out on loan at Huddersfield Town and may not return until the revised season comes to a close.
Liverpool Echo said in May that Lossl is contracted to the Terriers until June 30. Huddersfield might try to keep him for the rest of the campaign too, so Everton will have to turn to Joao Virginia or their trusted backup Stekelenburg.
The Dutch international joined Everton from Fulham in 2016 and has gone on to make 26 appearances in all competitions, conceding 31 goals and keeping seven clean sheets. Stekelenburg’s last outing in an Everton shirt came in their EFL Cup defeat to Southampton (October 2, 2018).
Despite not playing much football, the 37-year-old has been second-choice between the sticks for most of the season. He’s been an unused substitute 15 times in the Premier League, twice in the EFL Cup and once in the FA Cup, so he’s a more than able deputy for Jordan Pickford while Lossl is away.