Max Wilkins

Wed 20 May 2026 14:10, UK

Everton allowed Elijah Campbell to depart on loan for Port Vale in January.

The defender completed a move to Vale Park in the winter window with the hope of picking up more minutes at a senior level.

It represented the third temporary move of his career after spending previous spells with Fleetwood Town and Ross County.

This time, he played a regular role under Jon Brady, although his side were disappointingly relegated from League One on 42 points.

Campbell will soon return to Everton as we now assess what we know about his current deal on Merseyside.

What is Elijah Campbell’s contract situation at Everton?

The 21-year-old is certainly in need of first-team football if he is going to develop and become a regular at Hill Dickinson Stadium or beyond.

He did get that with the Valiants, but would have surely liked to have been more of a regular starter in the third tier.

Playing over 1200 minutes is still a plus point for his career at this stage and could bode well ahead of his Merseyside return.

That is, if he is to come back to Everton.

Campbell is actually out of contract at the end of the campaign, having penned a two-year deal in the summer of 2025.

As part of that, he reportedly earns £1000 per week at a yearly salary of around £52,000, something which is set to end in the coming weeks.

Campbell looks set for an Everton exit at the end of his current term as his future now remains up in the air ahead of the summer.

Could Campbell return to Port Vale on a free transfer?

The Valiants may have been relegated to League Two, but a return to Vale Park could prove to be beneficial for all parties.

The Englishman would likely become a regular starter as part of that division change, something which he has been calling out for over the years.

There will likely be other options available to the defender, given his versatility and relative experience for his age, potentially making him an attractive proposition for many sides.

The frustrating thing is that he hasn’t exactly proven himself while on loan, so whatever happens, staying at Hill Dickinson Stadium feels unlikely.

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