Yesterday afternoon Everton confirmed that goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg had signed a new two-year deal at Goodison Park.
📝 | Goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg has agreed a new deal with #EFC to the end of June 2020.
More ➡️ https://t.co/MWmz6ZM6iP pic.twitter.com/AEQuleEyAW
— Everton (@Everton) July 30, 2018
The 35-year-old was the subject of some speculation earlier in the summer transfer window where it was suggested he would move away to Lille for a spell in France and Ligue 1 but nothing came of that, and yesterday’s announcement was probably why it disappeared from the rumour mill as quickly as it appeared.
His new deal expires in June 2020 and the former Dutch international stopper will continue as backup and competition for England’s Jordan Pickford when he returns from his extended break after World Cup action out in Russia.
Reactions to the news on social media has seemed to range from the downright sensible to the utter hysterical as fans put their two penneth into tweets.
The deal to me makes perfect sense, he knows the group, he’s decent enough backup for Pickford and they already have a relationship that has clearly been working out for the Sunderland stopper. If he was chasing money he’d have taken a last move, so by football standards he’d probably on a sensible amount with an eye to finances.
We bought him for £800k, he’s performed admirably enough for a no.2.
— AJ Smith (@andystreacle) July 30, 2018
We need more than 1 keeper? We could do a lot worse. Nash, Wessels, Mucha.
— Blake Meakin (@BlakeEMeakin) July 30, 2018
Great back up everyone slagging him off obviously have short memories and don't remember his performance against man city
— Gareth Davies (@Tweety_McTweety) July 30, 2018
???? Congratulations, Maarten! ????
— Dugout (@Dugout) July 30, 2018
Or: you give a short contract to an experienced backup keeper at little or no cost. All down to the interpretation hey?
— robburnsefc (@robburnsefc) July 30, 2018
He's not.
— Leigh Parry (@Leigh_R_Parry) July 30, 2018
Wow ????
— Colm Hudson ☘️ (@IrishEverton) July 30, 2018
Better than Mignolet n Karius
— Matthew_N_Kurima (@Kurima_M_N) July 30, 2018
FFS!
— Paul Beesley (@Pablo_Beezo) July 30, 2018
Sorry but why are we STILL offering past it players contracts? I thought we were supposed to be getting rid of dead wood.
— Saphire (@safinho_) July 30, 2018
Will always be a hero after Citeh away
— Gary Roe (@_GaryRoe) July 30, 2018