Everton have confirmed the club’s second piece of business the summer, by completing a deal that will see Leighton Baines continue his career with a 13th season on Merseyside.
The left-back was out-of-contract this summer with his £70,000-a-week deal due to expire on June 30, but has reached an agreement on a new one-year contract on terms which are yet to be revealed.
Baines has stressed following the announcement of his new contract that his decision to extend his Toffees career into a 13th season was not down to financial means, and was rather as a result of meetings with Marco Silva and Director of Football Marcel Brands.
The pair displayed sincerity to the 34-year-old during negotiations, in which they laid out a vision for the future that appealed to the 2007 summer arrival.
“I have had numerous conversations with Marcel, and I spent more time with him and got to know more about him towards the back end of last season and during the off-season,” he told the Liverpool Echo.
“And I became more and more impressed with him from having that one-on-one time, and understanding his vision and the direction he’s trying to take the club.
“That gives you more optimism about where the club is headed.”
“I had a couple of conversations with the manager,” he added. “And he reiterated those things, and gave me the belief that it wasn’t only words to the media – it was things he meant.”
Baines will now be looking to add to his 411 career games in Royal Blue when the new campaign rolls around in August, having last featured for the club on February 2, as he captained the Toffees at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers before leaving the field in the 37th minute.
Here’s how these Everton fans reacted when the club announced the Kirby-born ace’s new contract…
Win a cup for him ????
— Tom (@Tom1878__) June 19, 2019
Top player and servant for our club ????⚪️
— Alan Carson (@alancarson83) June 19, 2019
This is the best news
One of the top ten to have ever put on the blue shirt
Legend
— paul le comte (@five15design) June 19, 2019
He deserves it Everton legend!!
— Andre (@Andre56562414) June 20, 2019
Great news for the Everton faithful a true legend.
— Kelvin (@KelvinPhelpsk) June 20, 2019
the pride of Liverpool. cmon Bainesy
— zane (@foshokyo) June 20, 2019
I’ve only been an Everton supporter since 2014. I cannot imagine the club without him.
— The Guy (@SomeDudeInIndy) June 19, 2019
How many games do you think he will play next season, if any?
— ViewFromThe92 (@FromThe92) June 19, 2019
Made up with this news
— Geoff (@geoffcoybb) June 19, 2019
Good lad best everton and English penalty taker ever. Oh Leighton Baines I bet you think this song is about you oh Leighton Baines
— cab (@cab19738) June 19, 2019