Everton announce they’re RELEASING Ashley Young, 39, and two other stars as David Moyes reveals ‘complicated situation’ with his squad

Ashley Young‘s long career in the Premier League may be reaching its final moments as Everton have confirmed they will release him and two other players.  

The Toffees are releasing the second-oldest player in the Premier League in Young, 39, who is just a few months more junior than Lukasz Fabianksi. 

Young has accumulated 438 Premier League appearances across 19 seasons in the top flight with Watford, Aston Villa, Manchester United, and the Merseysiders.  

In 2012-13 he won the Premier League title wiht United and he has twice been in the PFA Team of the Year, also earning 39 England caps between 2007 and 2018. His contract is up at Everton ends in June.

The club are also letting go of Asmir Begovic and Joao Virginia. Goalkeeper Begovic, 37, returned to Everton at the start of the season but did not make a single appearance. Fellow custodian Virginia, 25, has been with the club since 2018 and made eight appearances for the senior team. 

Manager David Moyes said: ‘Since my return to the Club, I’ve seen what a great professional Ash is and know the leadership qualities he has brought to the squad during his time at Everton. His versatility, experience and know-how have also been really beneficial to the team and me.

David Moyes admitted it is a ‘complicated situation’ for them with players’ contracts expiring

Goalkeepers Asmir Begovic and Joao Virginia have also been let go by the Merseysiders

‘Asmir and Joao have also worked really hard and conducted themselves impeccably.

‘On behalf of everyone at the Club, I want to thank all three players for their service and we wish them all the very best for the future.

‘This is a complicated situation in many respects, with so many players out of contract this summer. It’s important to me to speak with all of those players, individually, to give them clarity on their situations.

‘Lots of factors influence our decision-making and we’re currently working through that process with the players, which takes time. Some will have clarity by the end of this week, and for others it may get to next week, but it’s important it’s handled in the right way.

‘We also have five players on loan and we will let them know their situations in due course.’

Young has spent two years at Everton and made 68 appearances in that time, a testament to his enduring physicality and professionalism.

It is unclear what his next steps will be. One possibility that has been mentioned is a move to Wrexham, though manager Phil Parkinson says there will be a ‘no supserstars’ policy for their summer overhaul following promotion to the Championship. 

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Absoulaye Doucoure, Michael Keane, Idrissa Gueye, and Seamus Coleman are also out of contract but Everton have not commented on them.