Seamus Coleman confirms Everton contract position

Seamus Coleman has confirmed he is considering a new contract offer from Everton.

The club captain is one of several Everton players whose current deals are set to expire in the summer but it has long been anticipated any departure would be on his own terms.

That is the case again with the defender saying his thought process will be set against the knowledge that “it is hard to walk away from something you love”.

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Coleman has said he thought hard about signing an extension when in the same position 12 months ago. At the time he was in the early stages of dealing with a serious knee injury suffered in the draw at Leicester City. He agreed to take his stay into a 15th year and overcame that injury to feature again this season.

On Saturday, he led Everton out for the home win over Sheffield United and was then at the front of the lap of honour as he took in Goodison Park once more. That did not have the appearance of a final goodbye, and the ECHO had previously reported talks were underway between Coleman and the club.

Confirming he is mulling over a new deal, the 35-year-old said: “The club means everything to me. I suppose I live and breathe it like everyone else. It’s been a hell of a ride – the last two or three years – and it’s not a case that you just turn up for work, go home and forget about it.

“You live and breathe it, and it’s been tough. But I absolutely love this football club, I love this stadium. We’ve got another year here at Goodison, so I’m happy to have been offered something and I’ll have a think. This football club means everything to me and, as I said before when I signed my last contract, it is hard to walk away from something you love.”