“The club showed me respect” – Everton player on decision to stay with Toffees

Everton left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko has revealed he chose to sign a contract extension with the club due to the respect shown to him during negotiations. Entering the final year of his previous deal, the Ukrainian international committed his future to the Toffees through 2029, stating that stability and familiar relationships were crucial in his decision not to speak with other clubs.

Mykolenko originally joined Everton from Dynamo Kyiv in 2022 for €23.5 million and has since made 165 appearances across all competitions. Acknowledging fan comparisons to former full-backs Lucas Digne and Leighton Baines, Mykolenko emphasized that his primary strengths lie in his defensive duels and focus against elite opponents.