Everton could lose defender Vitalii Mykolenko for nothing in the summer, with his current contract set to expire, but the Ukraine international says he wants to stay
Vitalii Mykolenko has dismissed reports that he will look to exit Everton in the January transfer window. Mykolenko’s current contract is due to expire at the end of June, meaning he is free to discuss a summer free transfer in January, but he says that isn’t his plan.
The Ukraine international has been with the Toffees since a £17million transfer from Dynamo Kyiv in January 2022. He has been a dependable performer at left-back, making 131 appearances across all competitions.
Mykolenko was injured at the start of the season but has since regained his fitness and his starting place in David Moyes’ side. He has made nine appearances so far after completing 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw against Sunderland on Monday night.
Reports in Ukraine have suggested that Mykolenko will snub the chance to sign a new deal with Everton and will instead seek an exit in 2026. But speaking to Ukrainian journalist Viktor Vatsko on his Vatsko Live YouTube channel, the 26-year-old denied that is the case.
“That I don’t want to negotiate [contract] with Everton is a complete lie, because we just haven’t talked about it yet,” he explained. “I know my agent will be talking to Everton representatives soon.
“I don’t even think about it because I like to play for this club, I get a kick out of it here, that’s the most important thing for me. My family is comfortable living here. Basically, there is nothing more to say.”
Asked if his contractual situation affected him, Mykolenko replied: “It doesn’t affect me at all. I know how the coaching staff feels about me, how the club feels about me.
“Even if there are no offers in January or before January, it doesn’t bother me because, as you know me personally, I am a professional and will work out my contract 100 per cent. I won’t say that I won’t train because I don’t like it, because you treat me differently. This story is not about me.”
The Liverpool Echo has reported that James Garner is the next priority for Everton in terms of new contracts after James Tarkowski penned a new deal. Mykolenko has reportedly attracted interest from Spain and Italy and Everton have already signed a potential replacement.
The club landed Bayern Munich left-back Adam Aznou for an undisclosed fee in July for a fee in the region of £8m, but he is yet to challenge Mykolenko for a starting place.
“He’s got a bit to do before he’s probably going to be ready for the first team at the moment but we were aware of that when we brought him in,” Moyes said recently about Aznou.