Vitalii Mykolenko: What does his Everton future look like?

Michael Kenrick53comments | Jump to last

As the January Transfer window closes and the Premier League season enters the final run-in with Everton well placed in the mid-table throng, let's turn the spotlight on Vitalii Mykolenko's situation.

With his current 4-year deal set to expire in June, the Ukrainian international could potentially walk away from the Hill Dickinson Stadium on a free transfer at the end of the season. Some observers suggest the club is finally ready to act and extend the contract of another regular first-team player, just as they eventually did with James Garner.

Since arriving from Dynamo Kyiv in 2021, Mykolenko has established himself as a first-choice member of the Blues’ backline — not so much because of an exceptional skillset or unfailing impressive performances, but because there have simply been few other realistic options to fill the left-back slot he has made his own.

The stats speak for themselves: 146 appearances, 4 goals, and 3 assists. While those attacking numbers won’t remind anyone of Leighton Baines in his prime, they don't tell the full story of his importance to David Moyes’s system.

In a squad that has been ravaged by injuries and inconsistency over the last three seasons, Mykolenko has been "ever-present." He is a good example of a "Moyes player" — disciplined, physically robust, and rarely yields an inch to the Premier League’s high-profile wingers. But as an overlapping attacking wingback who can swing in a pinpoint cross... he's just not your man.

The Athletic reported on Tuesday that while the long-term outlook remains a bit hazy, Everton are expected to exercise an option to extend his stay. It’s a move that makes sense for two reasons:

By triggering the extension or offering a new deal, the club ensures that, if Mykolenko is to move on — amid rumoured interest from clubs elsewhere — it will be for a sizeable fee rather than a handshake and a thank you.

The argument could also be made that one-time Everton captain Mykolenko’s value is now at an all-time high. He has proven he can handle the rigours of a defensive role in the Premier League and has improved his positioning and one-on-one defending significantly since his debut.

If a continental club or a Premier League rival comes sniffing, Everton need to be in a position to leverage their investment. Extending his contract isn’t just about keeping him in a Royal Blue (... black or primrose) Everton shirt for the next 4 or 5 years; it’s about ensuring that the club’s balance sheet reflects his true worth on the pitch.

Views on Mykolenko's value to the team can be divided — some seeing a limited fullback, others see a defensive pillar. But we should all agree on this: seeing him walk away for free in June would be a disaster.

Whether he is the long-term answer at left-back or a sellable asset used to reinvest in the squad, TFG and their fabled recruitment team must act now. Protect the value, secure the player, and avoid another "what if" scenario that has plagued our recruitment strategy in recent years.

It doesn't change the imperative to find a better player for his position, but it just makes sense in what can be a difficult and cruel football world.

Reader Comments (53)

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Andrew Ellams 2 Posted 04/02/2026 at 12:15:11

He's not a terrible player but he is somebody we should be able to improve on.

Merle Urquart 3 Posted 04/02/2026 at 12:15:14

We may have been spoilt by having Leighton Baines at left back all those years.

I wish Mykolenko would work on his crossing though... like Tony Hibbert, he has the uncanny ability to hit the first defender on the arse!

Shaun Parker 4 Posted 04/02/2026 at 12:22:25

Let him walk away? Surely not. I'll send the money for the taxi to the Airport — can't have him walking!

He should have enough money to buy his own airfare. Be glad to see him gone. Such a limited footballer. Send him on his way.

Tony Hughes 5 Posted 04/02/2026 at 12:31:36

If we're looking to start a rebuild this summer (yes, I know, another one), then surely we should be looking to upgrade positions where we are not best served.

Left-back, right-back and centre-forward in the summer transfer window are absolute musts if we're serious about progressing on the pitch.

Ian Bennett 6 Posted 04/02/2026 at 12:45:28

Everton will trigger the year option, and then sell him to a German or Italian team is my guess.

We need a modern left-back who will give us what we had with Leighton Baines. Goals, assists, pace, threat, balance.

Mykolenko gives us nothing like that.

Merle Urquart 7 Posted 04/02/2026 at 12:47:40

Left back and centre forward definitely, if Patterson can stay fit abd get a decent run RB might not be as bigva problem as we think...l think the recent games in which he's been dropped he's been unlucky and didnt deserve it

Alan J Thompson 8 Posted 04/02/2026 at 13:29:36

You say "swing in a pinpoint cross"-- to whom???

We're lucky if we have one man in there and his opportunity comes after Grealish has slowed everything down, so the second man to cut Grealish off if he ever chooses to go wide, is there waiting for the overlapper.

Christy Ring 9 Posted 04/02/2026 at 14:03:05

Considering he's the only left back we have -- Moyes doesn't rate Aznou -- we should hold onto him

Especially if we have a 1-year option, we can still sign another left back this summer.

Mark Taylor 10 Posted 04/02/2026 at 14:25:28

We know how limited he is and he should no way be our first choice left-back -- that is down to the owners. But I'd be okay with him as second string, if he is willing to play that role, and if he is relatively cheap. Could even do left-centre-back in a crisis.

I think like others my inner fondness for him stems from his situation re his family in Ukraine. That must be incredibly difficult to manage emotionally and he does so very well and there is certainly no doubting his total commitment.

Andrew Merrick 11 Posted 04/02/2026 at 16:11:02

Ian 6, Leighton was also very capable at freekicks, linked play up, moved us up the pitch, and lets not forget the Bienaar connection...

Having said that, we cannot let Mykolenko walk away, because even if we bring a better left-back to the club, we need back-up --- ur squad is light on full-backs and left-sided players.

Jarrad Branthwaite will play where he's asked to, but like Jake O'Brien, we all know their best positions.

McNeil and Grealish will most likely be gone this summer, so the minimum squad rebuild needs two full-backs, one centre-forward, a left-sided attacking midfirlder, and a better back-up 'keeper, for cup runs.

Ged Simpson 13 Posted 04/02/2026 at 16:38:21

Peter 1: sums my view up perfectly and in a lot less words!

David West 14 Posted 04/02/2026 at 17:15:28

He has been consistent, you know what your going to get, 100% dependable, committed, gives everything, played his part in a stingy defence too.

We've had players with much more ability, but who lack the commitment, desire and workrate of Mykolenko. For a very limited footballer, he's proof that hard work is 90% of the game.

Going forward, both full-backs are the glaring areas that need improving, the stats show if we could get more assists, goals, and attacking threat from the full-backs, it would translate to more chances for the forwards, more space for the wingers to work, create and score.

Bill Hawker 15 Posted 04/02/2026 at 17:42:00

Until we have a demonstrably better player in that position, he stays.

Simple.

Shaun Parker 16 Posted 04/02/2026 at 19:02:24

Bill #15.

Branthwaite playing at left back at the weekend, out of position, was infinitely an improvement on Mykelenko.

There's the demonstration. Simple.

Mike Powell 17 Posted 04/02/2026 at 19:33:45

If we are to get to the next level, then we need an upgrade on him.

Nice bloke, but very limited footballer. He is not the only one, we need to get better players for next season.

Neil Cremin 18 Posted 04/02/2026 at 20:18:34

Shaun 16. Not sure where you came to that conclusion.

I don't remember Branthwaite haring up the wing and sending in pin-point crosses while playing left-back last Saturday.

Mykolenko is a very capable defender after all, and has kept many a star forward quiet, Salah for example. Where he is lacking is his reluctance to provide an overlap but our build-up is so slow that, when he does move up and either he is not used or by the time he gets the ball there is no free forward to seek, we end up sending hopeful crosses into our well-marked forwards. All end up looking poor and providing fodder for ToffeeWeb critique.

Also interesting here is the comparison with Baines. Yes a great player... but there is an underlying theme constantly on TW criticising Moyes system where he won nothing -- yet I don't recall us winning anything in the much lauded Baines - Pienaar era.

Yes, we should be building for the future... but let's make sure that we buy sensibly and do not make the same mistakes of the past.

Ian Bennett 19 Posted 04/02/2026 at 20:27:42

Andrew, its whether he wants to extend his stay with us, and play 2nd fiddle to a 'better' left-back.

I doubt it on both levels. He's a regular Ukraine international, and I can't see him sitting on the bench watching an upgrade.

It's also dependent on whether Moyes fancies him as an inherited player.

Signing two left-backs and two right-backs seems a stretch, mind.

Lee Courtliff 21 Posted 04/02/2026 at 21:04:10

Remember when Tony Hibbert played centre-back against Man City in 2012? That's where he would have played his entire career if only he was 2 or 3 inches taller. Mykolenko is from the same mould, an excellent defender but probably too slight to play centre-back, unfortunately.

I've always liked him, despite his obvious limitations, but he's been poor this season as those limitations are more exposed now we're not struggling against the drop anymore as the overall quality of the team has improved. Sadly, Mykolenko hasn't.

If we get Conference League next season, then he'll be an excellent back-up who will still be getting plenty of minutes. Like Dewsbury-Hall did last season with Chelsea.

Ian Bennett 22 Posted 04/02/2026 at 21:17:46

If he was sat on the bench or just playing conference, I doubt he'd sign a new contract. So assuming we don't trigger the 1-year option, he'd leave on a free. The alternative is sell him next summer for what £10-20M?

It worked on Dewsbury-Hall, to an extent, because he was still under contract. But even then, after 12 months, he moved for regular football.

Shaun Parker 23 Posted 04/02/2026 at 21:29:40

Neil #18.

No need for Branthwaite to go haring up and down the flanks to improve on Mykolenko. He simply looked forward, passed the ball forward, and looked for opportunities to get the ball forward.

Huge improvement on the trap the ball and pass back to the keeper that Mykelenko just always seems to do. If he does pass forward, it's a 2-yard side pass. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Josh Horne 24 Posted 04/02/2026 at 23:23:49

We need better players.than Mykolenko, Grealish would have had a far greater impact with an adventurous fuĺl-back behind him.

We must extend his contract and then sell him, but he should have gone years ago. We persist with too many players well beyond the point that it's clear they are not going to improve.

I have always wondered whether he would do better in the centre, but I guess the fact he's never been tried there suggests not.

Anthony Dwyer 25 Posted 04/02/2026 at 23:43:25

Left-sided Tony Hibbert!

No winger shows him up, very very solid defensively but limited going forward.

If we got an attacking right-back, Mykolenko would do a good job pushing across to make a 3-man central defence, allowing both the right back and left winger to push on.

Eric Myles 26 Posted 05/02/2026 at 01:11:43

Exercise the option and hope he puts himself in the shop window by having a great World Cup and sell him if we can pick up a better replacement.

Neil Cremin 27 Posted 04/02/2026 at 07:35:43

Shaun,

He didn't create much for us in that game where we depended on a rare shot at goal by a centre-back and an alert striker to tuck it away for us to salvage a draw.

I'm not getting on Branthwaite but more about the validity of your claim.

Paul Hewitt 28 Posted 05/02/2026 at 10:12:03

I like my defenders to defend. Mykolenko is a very good defender.

All this "he can't get forward" does my head in.

John Collins 29 Posted 05/02/2026 at 10:37:47

26 goals scored in 24 games. We need an attacking option from our full-backs.

I take your point, Paul, defending is their main job... but over- and under-lapping full-backs are very important in today's game.

Brian Harrison 30 Posted 05/02/2026 at 10:42:01

Paul @28,

I absolutely agree, Mykolenko is a very good defensive full-back, very rarely did Salah or Saka or Bowen go past him, and for my money, they are the 3 best wide players in the Premier League.

And I get it he isn't great going forward but he spent most of his time here under managers who didn't want him to cross the halfway line. So to now expect him to suddenly be an overlapping full-back is a bit much to ask.

His job first and foremost is to stop wingers getting past him and putting in crosses, which mostly he does.

Mike Price 31 Posted 05/02/2026 at 14:15:46

I think Mykolenko is one of the worst players I've ever seen at Everton. The first time I saw him at Norwich, I realised we'd been royally screwed over and someone was laughing all the way to the bank.

He gets targeted all the time. He's not a very good defender, has no pace and has no attacking prowess whatsoever. It's a fallacy that he's done well against Salah, check out his record against us when Mykolenko is playing.

The love-in for Leighton Baines is a reflection of the paucity of good players we've had since the '80s too. He had a good left foot and was a decent attacking threat but he wasn't a good defender.

He wasn't aggressive, he wasn't fast, he couldn't stop a cross and he regularly got targeted at the back post because he was short.

Paul Hewitt 32 Posted 05/02/2026 at 15:26:12

Mike@41. He's nowhere near one of the worst ever players. In my opinion anyway.

Soren Moyer 33 Posted 05/02/2026 at 20:42:20

League One quality!

Alan J Thompson 34 Posted 07/02/2026 at 05:11:46

26 goals in 24 games and it's the fault of the only full-back we play!?!

John Collins 35 Posted 07/02/2026 at 08:34:46

We have two full-backs playing every week, Alan.

Rob Dolby 36 Posted 07/02/2026 at 10:37:39

Mike 31,

You're a hard man to please.

Who are the best full-backs you have seen at the club?

Martin Farrington 37 Posted 07/02/2026 at 11:50:07

In answer to Rob @36 above:-

Left backs, off the top of my head, in no order of preference:

Mike PejicPaul PowerJohn BaileyPat "Psycho" Van Den HauweAndy HinchcliffeTerry Phelan David Unsworth (utility centre-back)

Alan McGuffog 38 Posted 07/02/2026 at 12:02:54

Greatest left back ever was Ramon Wilson!

But you have to be of an age...

Ian Bennett 39 Posted 07/02/2026 at 12:15:50

Mike, certainly at home, I thought Baines was man of the match in most games for about 4 or 5 years. That could be the team he was in, but I thought he was class player. Certainly the best full-back I've seen since 1990.

I genuinely thought he was unlucky to play in the Ashley Cole era. He would have a lot of caps if he was playing now, for certain.

John Collins 40 Posted 07/02/2026 at 12:28:46

Alan 38.

If anybody doesn't pick him, they are too young to have seen him play.

As good a left-back as I've seen, for any country or club.

Alan J Thompson 41 Posted 07/02/2026 at 12:36:54

John (#35);

No, we have two players in the full-back positions...

Unless of course you are suggesting that most of our other players are no better than schoolyard full-backs.

John Collins 42 Posted 07/02/2026 at 12:38:24

My original point, Alan, thanks.

We need productive, attacking full-backs.

Alan J Thompson 43 Posted 07/02/2026 at 12:39:44

Not to mention Mick Megan and John Bramwell.

Alan J Thompson 44 Posted 07/02/2026 at 12:42:34

John (#42);

You should have finished with a question mark then, John.

John Collins 45 Posted 07/02/2026 at 12:57:27

It wasn't a question, Alan.

It was a statement of fact.

Alan J Thompson 46 Posted 07/02/2026 at 13:02:57

I think you should re-read that then, John.

"We have 2 full-backs every week" sounds more like you disagree after my "only full-back".

John Collins 47 Posted 07/02/2026 at 13:16:47

Do we play a back four every week, Alan?

Is there a left-back and a right-back in that back four?

Eric Myles 48 Posted 07/02/2026 at 13:27:43

Alan #31 undoubtedly.

Paul 28 "I like my defenders to defend. Mykolenko is a very good defender"

Brian #30 I absolutely agree, Mykolenko is a very good defensive full-back

Anthony #25 Left-sided Tony Hibbert!

Mike Price #31 I think Mykolenko is one of the worst players I've ever seen at Everton. & The love-in for Leighton Baines is a reflection of the paucity of good players we've had since the '80s too.

Soren #33 l, League One quality

This is why I don't put much faith in posters' assessment of players (exception maybe the Abrahams) and why I don't generally criticise player performances 'cos everybody has a bad day at the office and I don't get to see many games these days anyway.

(There's elections tomorrow in Thailand so all bars are shut from 6 pm here until 6 pm tomorrow, so I won't see our game tonight.)

Mark Taylor 49 Posted 07/02/2026 at 13:31:08

I think I can finesse John's and Alan's dispute.

We do have two players in the full-back positions but usually one of them, sometimes even both of them, are not full-backs.

Best ever left back was Ray Wilson. Maybe you could add Keith Newton and Michael Ball to the list, certainly all better than Mykolenko.

John Collins 53 Posted 07/02/2026 at 13:41:28

Mark 49.

Way back at 29 I pointed that out, mate.

Mark Taylor 55 Posted 07/02/2026 at 13:49:55

Agree John, it's a point I've been making for months if not years. The lack of them also has the effect of making your wide forward players look much less effective.

There was an interesting video link to some young lad commenting, quite expertly I thought, on what Tyrick George brings to Everton. One interesting insight was that he's not a player who needs or wants overlapping full-backs, he likes to be left with the space to run into and unlike most of our players, has the pace to do that.

Made me think he would be a better option in front of Mykolenko than Grealish who I think really needs support from his left-back to be most effective

The right-back position, for years now, has been a bit of a clown story. I suppose we do at least have a left-back who actually plays, even if he is limited.

Rob Dolby 56 Posted 08/02/2026 at 09:53:17

Mark @55.

Our equaliser yesterday came from George passing the ball to the overlapping full-back Mykolenko, who then skinned their centre-back and put it on a plate for Dewsbury-Hall.

I think all wide midfielders need to link up with full-backs. It's noticeable the likes of Grealish, Dewsbury-Hall and Garner quite happily play triangles whilst ignoring Mykolenko unless they have to.

Mike @31, I may have missed it, who have been your best full-backs whilst watching the Blues?

Martin @38,

Yep, that is a list of left-backs, who are the best you have seen at the club?

To me, Baines is the best left-back I have seen playing for us. Converted winger who I think at one point was the greatest assist provider in the Premier League.

Ashley Cole was a fantastic footballer, nowhere near the goals or assists of Baines.

Mike Pejic was the first left-back I watched for the Blues, so I never got to see Ray Wilson.