Ashley Young says he wants to play for Everton for one more season before his current contract expires.
The former Manchester United player signed a one-year contract with the Toffees last summer after leaving Aston Villa as a free agent.
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Young made 34 appearances in the 2023/24 season, 31 of which were in the Premier League, where they secured relegation.
And although the 38-year-old’s contract is about to expire, he told The Pitch Prospect that he is more than happy to spend another year at Goodison Park.
“My contract expires at the end of June but I spoke to the manager and we had a brief conversation about staying for another season,” he said on Drive. “It’s now a matter of clarifying the final details for next season.”
“Yes, I do,” he replied when asked if he would like to stay at Everton for another season. “I would like to play as long as possible, whether it is a one-year or two-year contract.
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“Whatever everyone has offered me, I am always happy to sign a new contract. I’ve enjoyed my time this season being with the players and staff, it’s fantastic, a huge club and I’d love to play another season there.”
Young was part of an Everton side that had a total of eight points deducted for breaching the Premier League’s winning and sustainability rules.
The deductions sparked fears as to whether or not they would avoid relegation, but the Toffees ended up finishing 15th, 14 points clear of relegation.
“It was tough,” Young said. “I think we have made it clear as a team that we cannot let the point deductions distract us from our goals this season.”
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“It was tough at times. I think we got through the Christmas period just after the points were deducted and I think when we got points back it was another tough time.”
“But I think we showed everyone on the outside that the cohesion we have there as a team is something you just can’t buy, you just can’t have that. Everyone sticks together as a team.”
“We knew we had been deducted points, what we can do is go out and win games. We were a long way from relegation.” [zone] But we still sometimes looked over our shoulders and thought as players: ‘Will there be more?'”
Young also raved about Everton head coach Sean Dyche and his influence on the entire squad during a season full of uncertainty.
“The manager is honest and I think as a player that’s what you want,” Young said. “You want someone who will be honest, tell you like it is, come straight to you.
“He wants you to work and as a player you have to do that, you have to work, be it in training, be it in the games.”
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“As long as you work, he will support you non-stop and everyone knows that as a team… there are so many teams that play good football, we know that sometimes we have to stay in shape and defend as a team.
“But we can hurt players, we can hurt teams, we can hurt different teams that we play, that’s one of them. The manager, he was great with me, he was great with all the players and I think that’s why we did that. “I’ve done so well this season.
Young will be part of The Pitch Prospect’s coverage of Euro 2024 this summer, with outgoing West Ham manager David Moyes and French World Cup and European champion Emmanuel Petit also set to feature.