Everton hand huge new deal to key star ahead of rebuild under Moyes | OneFootball

Everton Hand £13m Deal to Midfield Mainstay Amid Squad Rebuild

Gueye Rewarded as Moyes Shapes New Era

Everton are expected to begin life at the Hill Dickson Stadium with continuity in midfield, as Idrissa Gueye closes in on a new two-year deal reportedly worth over £13 million. The 35-year-old has proven indispensable since David Moyes’ return, and the club’s willingness to offer improved terms underlines the scale of trust placed in the veteran midfielder.

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As Goodison News reports, Gueye was notably absent from Everton’s end-of-season release list despite his contract expiring this summer. That omission now appears strategic rather than administrative. According to Fabrizio Romano (29 May), a new deal is imminent, securing a player who started in all but three Premier League matches last season.

Bryan King, a former Goodison Park scout, spoke exclusively to Goodison News: “He’s got to be earning more than £100,000 a week. I’d imagine he will be earning around £125,000 a week with this new contract. It is a frightening amount of money, but this is the sort of money that is being brandished around now.”

Continuity Anchors Rebuild

While Gueye’s new deal may raise eyebrows given his age, it reflects a key tactical anchor in Moyes’ system. Everton’s second-half form last season, driven by a coherent defensive structure and experience through the spine, yielded 31 points from 19 games. That surge transformed their campaign, and Gueye’s presence was central to it.

“He was probably earning about £80,000 a week before that,” King added. “This is a good move for Everton to keep an experienced midfielder around.”

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In a period where the club has begun offloading older players, Gueye’s retention indicates Moyes’ desire for balance. The Senegalese international, a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations winner, provides leadership and positional security that can help bed in younger additions.

Youth Recruitment Essential to Long-Term Plan

Everton’s challenge now is clear. Retaining Gueye may serve the present, but building for the future remains imperative. The club had the second-highest average age in the Premier League last season, and three of the four players released this summer were over 30.

The permanent signing of Carlos Alcaraz and active interest in Manchester City’s James McAtee suggest that Everton are at least partially pivoting towards youth. But Gueye’s new deal is a reminder that transitional phases require experience as scaffolding, not just energy in the legs.

Photo IMAGO

“However, I know Everton are cautious with the amount of money they pay, and I know that Moyes likes to have full control,” King noted — a sentiment likely to shape future transfer strategy.

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In a world where sentiment is often sacrificed for stats, this feels like a club finally getting the balance right. Yes, Gueye is 35. Yes, the wage packet is hefty. But if you watched Everton last season, you know his value cannot be measured purely in age or numbers.

He was there when things turned. When Moyes steadied the ship, Gueye became the heartbeat of the midfield — tirelessly covering ground, dictating tempo and protecting the back line. And now, as they move into a new stadium and, hopefully, a more stable era, keeping a player like him makes emotional and tactical sense.

What matters most, though, is what surrounds him. Gueye alone cannot carry a midfield through another Premier League campaign. That’s why the moves for Alcaraz and McAtee feel so important. Young legs to run alongside his experience. Energy to meet his intelligence. The blend, if Moyes gets it right, could be what elevates this squad from relegation fighters to mid-table certainty — or better.

Everton fans have seen enough false dawns to remain cautious, but this feels less like another gamble and more like a step in the right direction.