Michael Keane extends Everton contract for another year

Michael Keane has agreed to extend hos contract with Everton for another 12 months. This follows on from the news that Jarrad Branthwaite will be out at least until the end of the season.

The 33-year-old Everton centre-back has seen a revival in his fortunes at the club after it seemed his career was coming to a natural end. But some important performances, often as a stand-in have seen him trusted more and more as an experienced and solid if basic defender, despite the occasional howler.

Keane has already made 30 appearances this season and is likely to return as first-choice partner fro James Tarkowski after Branthwaite’s latest hamstring injury.

This is what David Moyes had to say after Keane’s deal was announced on Thursday: “We’re pleased to have extended Michael’s long service at Everton.

“He is an experienced and respected member of the squad, who knows the standards we expect at the club.

“Michael has been consistent all season and he’ll continue to be a valuable part of our squad going into next season.”

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Reader Comments (38)

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Tony Abrahams 1 Posted 23/04/2026 at 17:05:54

Michael Keane has agreed to sign another 1-year contract, which will extend his sta,y meaning he will have given 10 years service to Everton by the end of next season.

The more things change, the more things stay the same!

Martin Berry 2 Posted 23/04/2026 at 17:30:44

Makes perfect sense, always a good choice for me.

Has he put a foot wrong the season? With age comes experience and I think he deserves his extra 12 months.

Pete Hughes 3 Posted 23/04/2026 at 17:37:55

And so the mediocrity continues...

Brent Stephens 4 Posted 23/04/2026 at 18:15:49

Or, Pete, he might just end up as a decent back-up player to a first team improved through summer signings?

Dave Abrahams 5 Posted 23/04/2026 at 20:01:40

When is his testimonial game being announced?

Ian Jones 6 Posted 23/04/2026 at 20:48:54

To be fair, he's done okay when played this season.

Paul Clements 7 Posted 23/04/2026 at 21:11:29

A no-brainer to be fair; for me, the best season he's had with the club. Hopefully this will allow us plough everything we have into full-backs and strikers.

If there's any money left after spend it on getting Barry some kind of education — I've never seen a more mouth open footballer in all my life. Every time I see him and his lazy attitude, I just want to shake the life out of him. He actually makes Cole Palmer look intelligent.

Paul Murray 8 Posted 23/04/2026 at 21:27:53

I think he's deserved this. He's played his best season this season and he's a better striker than Barry.

He's a better centre half than Tarkowski now too. Well deserved, Keano — very good squad player

Kevin Molloy 10 Posted 23/04/2026 at 22:03:17

Good move for everyone involved.

Perfect cover for Jarrad at minimal cost.

Paul Hewitt 11 Posted 23/04/2026 at 22:09:34

Coleman will be next.

Mark Taylor 12 Posted 23/04/2026 at 22:42:55

Assuming the wages are low, which I suspect they are, not a bad idea. Branthwaite may need a lot of backing up and if we get a proper right-back and replace Tarkowski with younger and better, that is the defence looking okay, provided Aznou can step up next season.

If not, he'll need replacing with someone who can cope with the Premier League and offer a bit more attacking scope than Mykolenko (not too difficult, that). I'm assuming Patterson will leave. No-one rates him.

Paul Griffiths 13 Posted 24/04/2026 at 02:14:54

Good news. Our best centre-half this season.

Essential back-up. Pleased for him.

Sean Kearns 14 Posted 24/04/2026 at 03:13:35

Keano gets well stuck in and is low-key brave as fuck! He always sticks his head in and never shirks out of anything. He's well decent like…

The first goal in the 3-2 Palace comeback, and the 30-yard banger against Spurs were both huge!! Streets won't forget. 🫡

Alan J Thompson 15 Posted 24/04/2026 at 04:16:15

Hardly long term but I just hope this doesn't reflect the transfer kitty.

Although, if Coleman gets fit, we could find ourselves with the oldest defence in the Premier League and could deny Mr Moyes playing three at the back on a high line while how did Tarkowski, Keane and McNeil go at their previous club.

Mark Murphy 16 Posted 24/04/2026 at 06:00:45

Stop it Hewey!!

Jim Bennings 17 Posted 24/04/2026 at 07:11:45

When did clubs stop doing testimonials?

Just asking because so many players we've had never get them anymore here, Baines? Howard?

Ian Wilkins 18 Posted 24/04/2026 at 07:40:52

A good squad decision. In fairness he’s done well this season.

No contract for Coleman, by all means join the coaching staff. No minutes this year really and can’t stay fit.

Ian Bennett 19 Posted 24/04/2026 at 07:49:37

That probably kills the Stones link. Which I think is a bit of a shame.

Stones & Branthwaite could have been the best footballing centre backs, this club has seen in many a year. Fitness obviously a huge concern, and for some would have moaned about the wages like it comes from their pocket. Missing that a free transfer offsets the capital outlay of £10ms when the club is still a million mile behind the top clubs

A pairing of Tarkowski and Keane next season, will blunt the progress of this side. Keane has done well enough, but neither is a top 6 centre half.

I saw the old quote that Liverpool fans, think Moyes is doing a good job, but would never have him. Well hello, do you think they'd take Keane & Tarkowsk?, would they fairy cakes.

The maths is simple, the fewer number of quality players in the side, the less potential this side has in getting to where we want to get - Regardless of the latest fella in the dug out.

Happy clap, but I think this is another signing that doesn't take us forward.

Andrew Ellams 20 Posted 24/04/2026 at 08:02:45

There's no way our don't care that much owners are going to sanction a wholesale squad overhaul this summer so this will hopefully money can be spent in more pressing areas other than the centre of our defence.

John Pickles 21 Posted 24/04/2026 at 09:05:52

Gana seeing Keane getting an extension before him, must be a real slap in the face!

Dave Abrahams 22 Posted 24/04/2026 at 09:11:05

Ian (19),

Liverpool fans wouldn't never have had Moyes has their manager because they are not thick

But quite a few Everton fans think Keane is a good player and are welcoming his signing another contract,

Ian Bennett 23 Posted 24/04/2026 at 09:16:35

And would Liverpool fans take Keane, Dave?

Paul Griffiths 24 Posted 24/04/2026 at 09:22:24

Yes Ian, ahead of disaster Konate if everything was laid out before them, but then they're pretty fucking thick.

Van Dijk and Keane would have done much better than Van Dijk and Konate... and yer know what, Van Dijk knows that.

John Collins 25 Posted 24/04/2026 at 09:40:41

Dave,

They would be protest marching from town carrying holy pictures if anyone told them 8th was successful.

Mark Murphy 26 Posted 24/04/2026 at 09:41:41

The only players Liverpool would touch from our squad are Ndiaye, Branthwaite, and possibly Dewsbury-Hall.

I sincerely hope that neither Tarkowski nor Keane are regular starters in next season's Everton. Nor Gana Gueye, for that matter; as high as I rate him, he's too old now.

Bring in the youth.

Paul Griffiths 27 Posted 24/04/2026 at 09:44:23

Harsh on Keane, Mark.

The shite would definitely take 3 looks at Dewsbury-Hall and Garner.

They will be on their very long list…

Mark Murphy 28 Posted 24/04/2026 at 10:04:20

I like Keane, PH, and would play him instead of Tarkowski tomorrow, but next season I want to see Branthwaite and O'Brien as first-choice centre-backs.

I forgot Garner -- yes, they'd probably take him as well.

John Williams 29 Posted 24/04/2026 at 11:35:32

Would anyone swap Konete for Keane at Everton, I don t think so.

Bob Parrington 30 Posted 24/04/2026 at 12:00:09

Sensible, given the news about Jarrad.

We still should sign a new centre-back as a safety factor if Branthwaite's recovery takes longer than expected.

Ian Bennett 31 Posted 24/04/2026 at 13:56:43

Take the rose-tinted glasses off, for fuck's sake.

Konate is a far superior player than Michael Keane. One has played a World Cup final, Champions League final, and has won the Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup twice.

Konate remains first choice for the French national team. The other won the Championship with Burnley.

Dave Abrahams 32 Posted 24/04/2026 at 13:59:14

Ian(23),

You know the answer — Are you fuckin' jokin'.

Tony Abrahams 33 Posted 24/04/2026 at 14:14:03

If you put them both on the transfer list which player would fetch the most money?

Bill Hawker 34 Posted 24/04/2026 at 16:09:50

Good news. He's played well this year.

Probably fits our budget too. Good, experienced back-up to have.

Christy Ring 35 Posted 24/04/2026 at 17:29:40

Ian #31 Konate is definitely not a far superior player than Keane this season, he’s been atrocious, with Van Dick not far behind him

Sean Mitchell 36 Posted 24/04/2026 at 17:30:26