Everton defender Vitaliy Mykolenko has revealed he decided to stay at the club this summer because of the respect that they showed him in contract negotiations.
The Ukrainian extended his stay on Merseyside this summer. He had been heading into the last year of his deal at the Hill Dickinson Stadium but has now signed until 2029.
Contract respect
Should he stay at Everton until that point, it will mean he has spent seven years of his career with the Toffees.
The Ukrainian joined the Blues in a €23.5m deal from Dynamo Kyiv in 2022 and has been a regular ever since, making 165 appearances in all competitions for the club.
He now admits that he values that stability, and also the respect Everton showed him with the contract that they offered.
“It was a good contract. The club showed me respect, and that is good for me and my family,” he told Sport UA.
“The most important thing for me was the people I work with. I like stability, and I want to stay at one club, with the same friends. When we started talking to Everton, I didn’t consider moving or speak to any other team. I think it was good for the club, too.”
| Vitaliy Mykolenko — Everton stats | 2024/25 | 2025/26 | 2026/27 so far |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 37 | 36 | 7 |
| Minutes played | 3,264 | 3,164 | 630 |
| Goals | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Assists | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Goal contributions | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Yellow cards | 4 | 6 | 1 |
Defensive strength
The left-back remains a mainstay under David Moyes, despite regular questions from the Everton fanbase about his ability or suitability for this side.
The big problem for Mykolenko is that he followed two of Everton’s most popular players in his position in Lucas Digne and Leighton Baines. Stepping into their shoes – and their legacies – has been a particularly difficult task for the Ukrainian.
While both of those players were known for their attacking prowess, Mykolenko believes his strength lies in the opposite.
“I’m pretty good at defensive duels,” he added.
“Against players like Bukayo Saka or Mohamed Salah, you have to stay focused for the full 90 minutes. I have that ability, and I’m mentally strong. When I’m in good physical shape, I think I can beat anyone one-on-one.
“After the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, everyone was saying, ‘Miko, you played well.’ But I replied, ‘No, Salah provided an assist and scored.’ I played well, but he’s an incredible player,” the Ukrainian noted.
“It’s good when people say, ‘He’s good defensively,’ because we spend more time defending than attacking.”
