Tony Bellew raves over best buy in Everton history, contract has been signed this summer
Tony Bellew branded Seamus Coleman the best buy Everton have ever made in the transfer market after the release of his documentary.
The prominent Toffees fan reacted via X on 21 July after the club posted a clip of the new YouTube feature on the long-time Goodison skipper.
Coleman, 35, signed a new one-year contract extension this summer [BBC Sport, 14 June] to extend his stay at the club into a 16th season after arriving from Sligo Rovers in 2009 for just £60,000 [BBC Sport].
Bellew wrote: “The best purchase in the clubs history! He epitomises everything that’s great about our club.”
Seamus Coleman continues to prove his value to Everton
It is hard to argue with the idea that the Republic of Ireland international has justified a transfer fee better than most players in Premier League history, let alone the club’s.
His injury issues in recent years suggested it was possible his time as an Everton player might be coming to an end with his previous contract this summer but it is testament to his enduring qualities that Sean Dyche wanted him back and an extension was secured.
Few have a bad word to say about Coleman, especially at Everton, so there is unsurprisingly no shortage of figures ready to praise him in the documentary.
He has led the club through an extremely difficult period in recent seasons and looks set to have to do so again next term after the collapse of the latest takeover attempt by Dan Friedkin.
He only made 12 Premier League appearances for Dyche last season and it arguably that it would have been even less if the situation under Farhad Moshiri hadn’t left the club in financial difficulties.
But equally his presence in the dressing room, along with the likes of Jordan Pickford, have surely been vital in holding the squad together at times over the past three campaigns at least.
Dyche was said to want to strengthen in the full-back areas last summer regardless of Coleman returning [iNews], but that didn’t happen and as yet that hasn’t done so this year either despite links to the likes of Jackson Tchatchoua.
The Toffees played a friendly against Coleman’s former side where a Youssef Chermiti snatched a 3-3 draw on Friday (19 July).
The squad looks in need of further strengthening and while Alan Myers (21 July) has indicated multiple deals remain in the works renewed doubt has been cast over the transfer situation in the wake of the takeover collapse [The Esk, 20 July].
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