Everton fans will love what James Tarkowski has said immediately after new contract extension
James Tarkowski is set to be an Everton player until at least 2028, after the Toffees announced that the defender has extended his contract.
Michael Keane and Tarkowski have been in superb form for Everton this season, playing a key role in the positive start David Moyes‘ side have made.
The Toffees sit eighth in the Premier League, and entered the international break on a strong note after ending their winless run on Sunday.
Everton beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Jack Grealish‘s stoppage-time winner completing the comeback for the home side.
Everton are expected to achieve their best Premier League finish in five years, but Moyes and his players are looking further up the table.
James Tarkowski expresses European ambition
Tarkowski has received huge praise for Everton this season, and rightly so – the defender has been imperious at the back.
The 32-year-old is yet to miss a single minute for the Toffees, often serving as the last line of defence for Moyes’ side.
With Jarrad Branthwaite yet to return to action this season, both Tarkowski and Keane have been forced to step up.
| James Tarkowski | Premier League 2025-26 |
| Appearances | 7 |
| Tackles | 12 |
| Duels won | 49 |
| Blocks | 12 |
| Recoveries | 22 |
| Fouls | 7 |
And the former Burnley duo have done exactly that, standing tall when Everton have been forced to defend deep.
Tarkowski had signed a four-year contract when he arrived at the club on a free transfer in 2022, but that contract has now been extended by another two years.
Much of the defender’s time at Goodison Park was spent fighting off the threat of relegation, but at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, he hopes to aim higher.
“It’s always been an ambition of mine to play European football,” Tarkowski told Evertontv after putting pen to paper on his new deal.
“I had a brief spell with Burnley in the qualifiers, but we didn’t make it to the group stages, so I want to get there. It’s the manager’s goal, it’s our goal as a team and so far, we’ve started pretty well.
“Of course, it could have been better, but we’ve had a decent start and we’re definitely striving to get into those European spots and bring European football to our new stadium.”
Everton have the squad to aim for Europe
Everton would have been hugely disappointed to be knocked out of the Carabao Cup last month, with the competition serving as an initial chance, both to secure European football and to win a first trophy in this century.
But should the Toffees continue to develop amid the form of the likes of Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye, there will be further chances this season.
The FA Cup, for one, but the Premier League’s top seven, too, should not feel completely out of the reach for Moyes’ side, considering the huge quality they now possess throughout the team.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest Everton news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account – @goodisonnews