Leighton Baines Signs 1-Year Contract With Everton to Stay at Goodison Park Until 2020

Everton have confirmed club stalwart Leighton Baines has signed a one-year contract with the club after his previous deal expired at the end of the season.

The left back has been with the Toffees since 2007, when he joined from Wigan Athletic for £6m, and has since made 411 appearances for the Merseyside outfit.

Baines' new deal will see him embark on his 13th season at Goodison Park, this despite finding first team opportunities hard to come by after the impressive form of Lucas Digne. 

Since the Frenchman's arrival last summer, the 34-year-old was limited to just six Premier League outings, but the Kirkby-born defender says he is still relishing another season with Marco Silva's side.

“I do feel as proud as when I first signed,” Baines told Everton TV. "As you get older, you realise the work you need to do to sustain the level required by the club. And to be judged to be at that level in the later stages of your career is testament to the work you do. You take pride in it all.

“When you look at the back end of last season and how well we played and the results we picked up against some good teams it gives us plenty of optimism going into this season. We are confident about what we can do and striving to achieve success.”

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Silva also insisted it was always his plan to offer Baines new terms at the club, claiming it was high on his list of priorities ahead of the club's pre-season training.

“It was vital for me to keep Leighton at Everton and I am very pleased to finalise his contract before we return for pre-season,” Silva added. 

“Leighton is part of the club’s fabric and a top class professional. Most importantly, Leighton is still an exceptionally good footballer and features in our vision for what we want to achieve at Everton.”