The English club Everton announced on Wednesday that it had activated a clause allowing it to extend the contract of its Franco-Malian midfielder Abdoulaye Doucouré by one year, which expired this summer.
“The Blues acted to add 12 months to the midfielder’s current contract before the deadline,” the struggling Toffees said in their statement.
Currently 17th and first non-relegation before the last day, the other club Liverpool will be sure to stay if they beat Bournemouth, 15th and already guaranteed to stay in the Premier League, at Goodison Park on Sunday.
If Everton is in a strong position before this last day, it owes a lot to the 30-year-old former Rennais, who arrived at the club in September 2020 from Watford, who had just been relegated.
Everton’s results have deteriorated markedly in recent seasons and Sean Dyche arrived in February to save the club. Since his arrival, Doucouré (2 caps for Mali after being a French international in all youth categories) has become decisive again.
Scorer against Nottingham Forest (2-2), decisive passer against Brentford (1-0), then goalscorer and decisive passer against Chelsea in March (2-2), he helped his club to take five points from these three games and he also netted twice in a 5-1 win at Brighton earlier this month.
