Everton will lose Abdoulaye Doucoure this summer.
(Credit: Imago)
Goodison News Speaking to Ian Darke
Fri 30 May 2025 13:10, UK
Abdoulaye Doucoure is set to leave Everton as a free agent this summer.
The 32-year-old played his final match for the Blues in the 1-0 win over Newcastle on the final day on the season (25 May).
The midfielder will not sign a new contract with the Goodison Park outfit and is set to move on to a new adventure for the new campaign.
Everton's new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock
Doucoure will not feature at the new stadium. (Credit: Imago)
Everton blown away by Al-Ettifaq offer for Doucoure
Doucoure is reportedly set for lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia, with Al-Ettifaq tabling a £4million-a-year contract for the Mali international.
The Africa Foot report (27 May) claims that he is holding out for a figure closer to £8m, as he looks for one final payday.
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TV commentator Ian Darke believes that the Toffees could not and would not have been willing to match that offer.
Speaking exclusively to Goodison News, he said: “No, they cannot match those kinds of demands.
“Saudi have got the kind of money that is going to blow normal offers, even in the Premier League, out of the water.
“It then comes down to the player, what stage he is in his career, he has got to look at the situation, and say ‘well, do I still want to play in Europe’s top five leagues, right at the top of the game or do I want to cash in a little bit because I probably won’t get an offer like this again?
“It is going to look after him for life isn’t it, that kind of money, you only have to be out in Saudi Arabia for a couple of years, you’ve even got Bruno Fernandes apparently considering doing that.
“So, that is the question that is going to be put in front of a lot of footballers and I could see Doucoure at this stage being tempted by that quite easily.”
Abdoulaye Doucoure's Premier League stats for Everton.
Abdoulaye Doucoure’s league stats for Everton this season. (Credit: Imago)
Everton need to replace Doucoure
The two-cap international is a very experienced player and featured 33 times this season in the Premier League, scoring three goals and assisting two.
David Moyes needs a younger, more complete attacking midfielder and he may have found that with Carlos Alcaraz set to make his loan permanent.
However, Doucoure has played a huge part in Everton‘s recent survival bids and his ability to thrive in the biggest moments will be sorely missed, despite his reported £120,000-a-week wages being off the books.
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