David Moyes has confirmed that club captain Seamus Coleman will not be leaving Everton this summer.
The Toffees said the Donegal man is more than just a player at Everton.
Killybegs man Seamus, who turns 37 in October, is one of 14 players at the club who are either out of contract or coming to the end of their loan at the end of this season.
Coleman has made a club record 368 Premier League appearances for the Blues.
But injury has seen him play just five times in all competitions this season.
Moyes was asked if Coleman’s long service at the club might influence any decision to allow Coleman to lead Everton out for what will be the men’s first team’s final fixture at Goodison Park against Southampton on Sunday.
Moyes admitted: “It does come into my thinking, but what I will say is that Sunday is a game in which we’re going to do everything we can, to prepare the best and play the best we can, but Seamus will stay next season, without doubt. He will be part of the group.
“I need him here, his leadership, his message he has among the players and in the dressing room is so strong, it will be wrong of me to let him go. One way or another, Seamus will be here certainly next season.”
Coleman is the only remaining player at Everton from Moyes’ first spell at Goodison Park having been signed from Sligo Rovers in January 2009 and the Scot said: “I overpaid, about sixty grand I think, at the time! It was great money spent.
“Seamus is actually a little bit more than a player here. He’s going into a position where he’s helped the club through some of the most difficult periods, but he’s never been to another club,” added Moyes.
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