Should Idrissa Gana Gueye be given a fresh Everton contract?

(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

The 36-year-old midfielder has played a pivotal role over two tenures at the Toffees, but with his current terms set to expire at the end of June, the question is whether Idrissa Gana Gueye deserves a new deal.

During the Senegalese’s career, Gueye has racked up 236 appearances for the Blues whilst contributing 10 goals and 11 assists. With two separate periods at the club, a 3-year stint at PSG splitting them, the midfielder has cemented himself as a top-class operator.

But time waits for no man. So, does age come with wisdom, or simply tired legs and a lack of physical intensity?

Gueye has always been known by Evertonians to have an engine, having very strong interception abilities, something valuable in a defensive midfielder. Now, at 36 years of age, it is surely a matter of time before these elite characteristics naturally start to fade.

It’s something we started to see in 2025-26. In five of his first six seasons, Gueye ranked in the top three Premier League players for tackles won. Last season, he was 102nd, and eighth among the Everton squad. Limited minutes played their part in that total, but his 3.9 tackles per game average from 2024-25 dropped to 2.1 per 90 last season.

Gueye signed a 1-year contract last summer, with another year’s extension potentially on the table, but can existing Everton players step up to the plate?

Despite rumours doing the rounds that Tim Iroegunam may be heading for the exits, the 22-year-old has played significant minutes under Moyes’s management this season. Iroegbunam seems to be developing into a talent, and one to keep an eye on. He made more tackles (68 to 43) than Gueye in 615 fewer Premier League minutes.

The obligation to purchase Merlin Röhl after this campaign’s loan spell may create another option centrally too. A £17.3M fee is pending to Freiburg.

The Premier League is continuing to develop its trend of a decreasing average age within starting XIs. At the end of the day, the Premier League is renowned for being the most intense league in the world.

However, a trait younger players do not possess is experience, something Gueye will continue to provide if a new contract is agreed upon. As the intensity of the Premier League seems to increase, Gueye’s presence on the pitch may gradually decline, but his mentality and experience will never.

Gueye is heading towards the end of his career, and a fresh contract is expected to have reduced terms. The Senegalese international currently earns a reported £120k per week, easily positioning him in the top five earners within the Everton squad.

It appears the terms, rather than the player’s current ability, might be the determining factor in whether an agreement is reached.

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Mike Hayes 1 Posted 11/06/2026 at 14:10:59

No but thanks for all you’ve done, great player but time to move on from dinosaur Moyes choice of aging players time to give youth a chance. Yes he is experienced, but letting him play pushes a player who needs experience to the bench. Thanks Idrissa you’ve been a revelation 💙

Bill Hawker 2 Posted 11/06/2026 at 14:20:24

Was good when he played but we need fresh, young players in the squad. Best wishes to Idrissa going forward wherever that may be.

Jarmo Rahnasto 3 Posted 11/06/2026 at 14:31:43

If he agrees to a pay cut and signs for 1 year, then absolutely.

Why not??

Tony Abrahams 4 Posted 11/06/2026 at 14:42:38

I think a lot of very good managers who I don't consider to be dinosaurs would be looking to keep Gueye, Mike.

Top-level football has now become a squad game.

Gaute Lie 5 Posted 11/06/2026 at 14:53:51

No.

His playing is on a downward spiral. His age is catching up to him, and we have other players that can fill his role.

He has been a very good player for Everton, but sentimental value is not worth the money we would pay him.

Also, him playing in the World Cup means he would not have a long, long vacation needed for a player his age.

Kevin Molloy 6 Posted 11/06/2026 at 15:06:49

No, if we are a professional outfit, we should have been planning for his departure months ago.

37-year-olds do not play centre-midfield in the Premier League.

Jim Bennings 7 Posted 11/06/2026 at 15:48:00

We need to find the next Gana.

He's still got something to offer and there isn't another one in our squad that can do what he does as well as he does, but at some stage you need to move on.

Martin Berry 8 Posted 11/06/2026 at 15:58:36

Thanks for all his effort in a blue shirt but time to move on. Any money on wages spent on a new contract, albeit just one year, could be spent on a replacement with a long term career.

Best of luck to him where he moves to, perhaps Saudi with a big pension pay day?

Christy Ring 9 Posted 11/06/2026 at 16:35:10

No for me, at 37 years and playing midfield in the Premier League is a struggle.

He's been a great servant, but time to move on and bring in a younger replacement. Knowing Moyes, he probably wants to keep him, and play him in every game.

Jim Wilson 10 Posted 11/06/2026 at 17:07:52

Until we bring in a replacement (and Garner is a complement not replacement) Gueye needs to be here.

You only have to see how the team descended in his absence at the end of the season to see what we are like without him.

Gueye is an excellent ball winner and defence shield and, until we have someone else who has settled in, he must stay. 37 or not, he is an important part of our team.

Minik Hansen 11 Posted 11/06/2026 at 17:19:35

Last few months, since the talk started, I wanted him to stay here, firstly because of him being a part of keeping Ndiaye settled and happy at Everton, and his experience. And now, Tim, the replacement in my eyes, might leave? Not on my watch, but what can I do? Say "Tim, Please Stay!"

Well, numbers show that Gana plays differently now, the question is: Is it good or bad? Can he play enough games next season to fulfill his wage?

Unfortunately, there's some truth in moving on, but time can only show what will happen.

Enjoy the World Cup, toffees.

Mike Allison 12 Posted 11/06/2026 at 17:20:33

No. He's been declining for at least two years. Invest in Iroegbunam, Armstrong and Garner for the ball-winning, defence-shielding side of the game.

Play Dewsbury-Hall and Röhl in the ‘2' of the 4-2-3-1 alongside them and focus on signing match-winning players in the wide positions.

Tom Bowers 13 Posted 11/06/2026 at 18:32:13

He is not up to snuff and for the most part hasn't been since he came back. Let him go along with others who have been here too long collecting big pay packets, sorry Seamus.

As an attacker I am even against bringing Jack back but he showed he still has enough to help the mediocre defence we currently have so I would give him one more season.

Gavin Johnson 14 Posted 11/06/2026 at 18:50:28

No. We need to move on from Gana.

We also need to sell Iroebungan, who is not good enough and never will be good enough for a team with aspirations of the Top 6. I've never seen an Everton player give the ball away as much as Iroebnugan. Moyes also doesn't truest Alcaraz so he can also go too.

Bring in Hackney and Morten Jjulmand, if we can get the latter.

Liam Mogan 15 Posted 11/06/2026 at 19:01:11

Yes, now that Seamus has gone we need a focus for our sentimentality

David West 16 Posted 11/06/2026 at 19:03:05

Rather tim & Alcaraz left and gana told he'll be second string behind kdh, Garner rohl, Armstrong & Hackney hopefully.

He's probably on a big wage tho, so wouldn't be too worried if Hackney came and gana, tim & Alcaraz left.

Rohl & Armstrong shown they have the ability to overtake what gana now offers.

Si Cooper 17 Posted 11/06/2026 at 19:39:34

Can a one year deal on the right terms hurt the club?

Seems to me he can still do a decent job and so could be fine for the squad. I don’t know what he might do off the pitch that could be useful (yes, I know he’s been controversial at times) but he might help retain / recruit players.

There aren’t many, but there are a few who can play well enough beyond 36 and he could be one.

Ian Bennett 18 Posted 11/06/2026 at 19:41:37

I like Gana. But if he wants £120k a week, then that is very hard to justify.

A reluctant release. The £6m on wages is needed elsewhere.

Anthony Dove 19 Posted 11/06/2026 at 22:25:50

If we are ever going to move the Club forward the answer is thank you but goodbye,

Tom Bowers 20 Posted 11/06/2026 at 22:27:04

He is not up to snuff and for the most part hasn't been since he came back. Let him go along with others who have been here too long collecting big pay packets, sorry Seamus.

As an attacker I am even against bringing Jack back but he showed he still has enough to help the mediocre defence we currently have so I would give him one more season.

Steve Brown 21 Posted 12/06/2026 at 04:14:10

Gueye had a better season than Mykolenko, Tarkowski, McNeil, Barry, Beto, O'Brien (at right back). Most of them will be next season.

Plus Moyes loves players over 30 years old.

If they can reach a compromise on salary, then one additional year is OK by me.

He probably would have headed to Saudi Arabia for a final payday if the region was stable.

Steve Brown 22 Posted 12/06/2026 at 04:14:10

Gueye had a better season than Mykolenko, Tarkowski, McNeil, Barry, Beto, O'Brien (at right back). Most of them will be next season.

Plus Moyes loves players over 30 years old.

If they can reach a compromise on salary, then one additional year is OK by me.

He probably would have headed to Saudi Arabia for a final payday if the region was stable.

Alan J Thompson 23 Posted 12/06/2026 at 05:47:10

Si(#17), "He might help retain or recruit players" and any that won't play ball he could smack in the mouth, if he's kean enough.

Liam(#15); that really made me laugh.

Frank Wolfe 24 Posted 12/06/2026 at 07:13:21

1 year contract - yes. >1 year - no.

Brian Harrison 26 Posted 12/06/2026 at 11:14:45

I get the feeling that quite rightly Moyes wants him to stay, as even at 36 he was still one of our better players last season, but I get the feeling that TFG want a younger age group. There was no question about Ganas fitness as he probably covered more ground than any other player.

Ajay Gopal 27 Posted 12/06/2026 at 11:16:37

I think most of us are guilty of focusing on age as a number. Yes, generally speaking, 37 years is usually when players are past their prime. But 2 comments: 1. People 'age' at different rates, and in Gana's case, he is an exceptionally fit athlete, and there are plenty of examples of players in their late 30s who still played at a very high level - James Milner, Ashley Young, etc. Having said that, Gueye's game is an 'all-energy' rushing game rather than being a more tactical player who knows how to conserve energy and take up good positions instead of chasing after the ball. 2. An exceptional player past his prime would still be better than most younger players.

On balance, I would say keep him for 1 more year as a senior pro with a specific role - that of closing out a game when the opposition players are tired and as a squad filler when injuries/suspensions hit the squad.