Dominic Calvert-Lewin confirms Everton exit on free transfer after nine years | OneFootball

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has announced he will leave Everton when his contract expires at the end of June, bringing a nine-year spell on Merseyside to a close.

The 28-year-old striker joined the Toffees from Sheffield United in 2016 and went on to score 71 goals in 273 appearances across all competitions.

In a heartfelt statement shared on Instagram, Calvert-Lewin described his decision as “incredibly difficult” and revealed it was taken after long discussions with his family.

He credited Everton for shaping both his career and his character, saying the club saw potential in him when he arrived at just 19 years of age.

The England international, who has 11 caps and four goals for his country, said he will “always carry a bond” with the club and expressed pride in having worn the shirt through difficult moments.

His standout campaign came in 2020-21, when he scored 16 Premier League goals and earned a place in England’s squad for the delayed Euro 2020 tournament.

However, he has struggled with fitness and consistency since then, managing just three league goals in 26 appearances last season while missing a large chunk of the campaign due to injury.

Calvert-Lewin acknowledged the challenges of recent seasons but highlighted the support of Everton fans and the pride he felt in representing the club at Goodison Park.

He said celebrating goals in front of the home crowd was a memory he would always treasure and that he hoped to leave with the respect of supporters.

His exit leaves Everton with a significant gap to fill up front, particularly as they prepare for their first season at their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

Manager David Moyes will be under pressure to secure a suitable replacement, and the club have already been linked with Villarreal’s French forward Thierno Barry.

Calvert-Lewin’s next destination remains unclear, but he is expected to attract interest across Europe as a free agent with Premier League and international pedigree.

He leaves Everton as one of their longest-serving players in recent years and a key figure in the club’s fight to maintain top-flight status during some of their most turbulent campaigns.

“From my very first day, I always knew what it meant to play for Everton,” he wrote. “Up the Toffees.”