Everton defender Seamus Coleman will end his playing career at the club at the end of the season, bringing a 17-year spell to a close.
Coleman joined Everton from Sligo Rovers in 2009, with the Irishman going on to make 433 appearances for the Toffees.
The 37-year-old holds the record for the most Premier League appearances in club history with 372. Should he feature in Everton’s home finale against Sunderland on Sunday, he will move into 10th on the club’s all-time appearances list, ahead of Dixie Dean and Leon Osman.
Coleman, who has scored 28 goals for Everton, also had a one-game spell as joint interim manager alongside Leighton Baines after Sean Dyche was sacked in January 2025. That game was a 2-0 win over Peterborough United in the FA Cup.
A captain for 140 Everton games, Coleman told the club’s official website: “After more than 17 years at this great football club, I’ve decided this season will be my last as a player here.
“I want to thank the fans for their unbelievable support. You’ve helped me in more ways than you could imagine. I’ve always tried my best to put Everton Football Club first and you all mean the world to me. I live in the city – I see you all daily – and I’ve taken your love of the Football Club back into the dressing room to explain to the lads how much Everton means to the people.
“I also thank my managers, team-mates and all the staff at Everton. They’ve seen me happy, sad, angry, emotional, but the greater cause has always been Everton Football Club. Thank you for making me a better captain and team-mate. It’s an incredible football club with incredible people.
“Obviously, after such a big decision, I want to have some time over the summer to focus on what’s next for me and my family. My love for Everton is something you all know about – and I’ve got a huge love for Ireland as well.”
Coleman has yet to decide his next steps, though he has seemingly being offered an opportunity to continue with Everton in a non-playing role.
“The Club have been unbelievable with me,” he added. “They’ve offered me an opportunity to stay on at the Football Club. The manager and staff have been great, and I think with it being such an important decision over my future, I’m going to take a nice, long holiday and look back on what has been an amazing time as an Everton footballer.
“Coming over here as a 20-year-old from Sligo Rovers to a reserve team, I was just hoping to impress enough to get on the bench. To think I’ve gone on to make the most Premier League appearances for Everton and to become captain of this great football club – it was beyond my wildest dreams.
“This will always be my football club. I’m glad I’ve been here for so long that I can say I have a team that I will support for the rest of my life. My family, here and back in Ireland, are Evertonians for life. There’s something special about that, knowing in the years to come we’ll still always be supporting Everton.
“This will always be my club. Thank you for letting me be part of it for more than 17 years.”
