Vitalii Mykolenko outlines his Everton ambition after signing new contract

The 27-year-old’s existing deal was due to expire this summer, though Everton had an option to trigger a one-year extension. The club has instead agreed new terms with the Ukraine international. Mykolenko said: “I feel excited to sign this new contract – very excited and proud.

“I remember the first message I received from Seamus [Coleman] when I signed in 2022. I remember reading it and thanking him for welcoming me. He gave me that confidence immediately that I’m in a proper family here.

“In the first few years of my time here we were struggling, but our team, as a family – every person in the building gave everything to get through it. What we have now is stronger and we are getting better every season.

“For me, it’s most important to feel confident and feel comfortable in the environment and I have that here, so I’m really happy.”

Mykolenko was expected to remain at Everton this summer, with David Moyes hinting a deal was close in the final weeks of the campaign.

The defender has been a regular at Everton under successive managers, clocking up 143 Premier League appearances since signing from Dynamo Kyiv in a deal worth just shy of £20m back in January 2022.

Having reaffirmed his commitment to the club, Mykolenko’s thoughts now turn to the future and he said: “Since the manager [David Moyes] came in, I think we are building up. He's a very good person, which is important for me and, as a manager, he gave me freedom on the pitch.

“It’s been a good journey for me so far and now I think we are taking steps in the right direction to get higher and higher in the table. Next season, we want to finish much higher.

“I like to have realistic dreams... winning a trophy or maybe a European trophy, as some other teams have done in the past few years. Individually, just to play every single game, and be consistent as Jimmy [Garner] was this season.

“That was a good example for me because of how brilliant and how consistent he’s been. I like that and want to achieve it, too.”

Everton remain light at left back and are expected to explore the market for cover and competition for Mykolenko, with Adam Aznou likely to be made available for loan next season. While Mykolenko has performed well defensively, his seven goal involvements in four-and-a-half years means signing a more attacking full-back who could dovetail with him would improve Moyes’ options.