Michael Keane spoke about his hopes for the new season, Everton's attempts to bolster the squad through the transfer market and plans for Hill Dickinson Stadium following the 1-1 draw at Accrington Stanley
Michael Keane insists he’s not extended his stay at Everton just to sit on the bench. And the defender says he’s looking forward to an exciting new era at Hill Dickinson Stadium with the Blues squad planning to train at the 52,769 capacity venue before their first game with Roma.
Keane became a free agent this summer when the five-year deal he’d signed back in 2020 expired. But it was announced on July 4 that the centre-back, who has been with Everton since his £25m transfer from Burnley in 2017, had penned a new one-year contract.
The 32-year-old played the full 90 minutes in the Blues’ first pre-season friendly on Tuesday night as David Moyes’ men drew 1-1 with Accrington Stanley and he maintained that getting on the pitch himself remains his priority.
Keane said: “I’m here to compete. I’m here to train well every day and if I get a chance to play, I want to do my best.
“I’ve not signed just to accept being third or fourth choice. I’m here to do my best and see what happens.
“Obviously those lads (Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski) have done really well and have played a lot of games together and got good results, so there’s a good probability I’ll have to wait for my chance and have to be patient. But when it comes, I have to make sure I’m ready, and take it.
“It feels like there’s a lot of change at the club. Obviously, I’ve been here for eight years and this is my ninth season and a lot of people have come and gone, but this summer there are going to be big changes within the club, whether it’s players or backroom staff, so there are a lot of new faces.
“There are people who are really busy behind the scenes as they’ll be looking to bring a handful of more new players in. Things are going to change but it’s exciting and the club will be better off for it as we’re going to a new stadium as well and hopefully the club is only going to go in one direction.”
Keane, who has made 230 appearances for Everton (he’s currently 17th on the club’s Premier League list for Premier League games, between Neville Southall on 207 and his team-mate Idrissa Gueye on 194) and has scored 16 goals, reckons his form in the latter stages of 2024/25 under Moyes showed he remains a useful option as the Blues look to raise the bar of expectations again.
He said: “I think it’s an exciting time to be a part of the club. Obviously going into the new stadium, the thought of bringing new faces in and making the squad better and potentially challenging for European places through the league and stuff like that and wanting to be a part of that.
“I think I proved to myself at the end of last season that I’m still good enough to play in the Premier League and I know how I am physically. I’ve just got to wait for my chance and train hard, make sure I’m fit and ready and when my chance comes, take it.”
Although Everton had to come from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against their League Two hosts at the Wham Stadium, with a Beto penalty cancelling out Ben Ward’s back-post header early in the second half, Keane showed his class in a moment when he effortlessly fended off challenges from Charlie Caton twice in quick succession to retain possession just inside his half.
The game was played in periodic torrential rain, which made conditions more akin to a cup tie played in late autumn rather than a July curtain-raiser to the new campaign. But Keane was pleased with the work-out on the back of the Blues’ training camp in Scotland.
He said: “It was nice to play. I think there were a few tired legs out there, we’ve had a good week-and-a-half back training and it has been difficult, so I think everyone was a bit fatigued.
“It’s enjoyable getting back on the pitch and playing a proper game. I think Accrington were good, fair play to them, they made it quite difficult for us and they’re also a week ahead in their schedule for pre-season, so it was a good test and I prefer playing in the rain to over 30 degrees last weekend, I was quite happy with that!”
Everton now go to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday before three games against Bournemouth, West Ham United and West Ham United in the USA in the Premier League Summer Series before concluding their preparations with a home friendly against Roma.
Keane revealed that Moyes is planning to conduct some sessions with his players at their future home on the Mersey waterfront to help them get acquainted with the new surroundings ahead of their inaugural fixture.
It will be a venture that is particularly useful for the Stockport-born player as he still hasn’t been inside Hill Dickinson Stadium. Keane said: “I can’t wait. I haven’t been to it, so I’m really excited.
“I missed it. We had an appearance there last year, but I was ill and I’ve purposely not gone since then, so I’ve been saving it, we’re going to train there in the next week or so.
“Having those little things is definitely important. If we just turned up there on the first day of the season, it wouldn’t feel like home, I’d be in the same position as the away team, having never been there.
“It’s important that you do get used to your surroundings, get comfortable on the pitch and playing.”