Phil Jagiekla pens new Everton deal to keep him at Goodison until the summer of 2019
Says confident Toffees' skipper: 'Realistically, winning a trophy is an aim this season, next season… and into the future'
PHIL JAGIELKA has agreed a one-year contract extension.
Given the signing of Michael Keane from Burnley, the 34-year-old is by no means certain of a place in Ronald Koeman’s starting XI.
But he was still delighted to put pen to paper.
England central defender thanked chairman Bill Kenwright for the new deal.
And he’s targeted winning a trophy before the end of his contract which now runs until the summer of 2019.
He said: “That is what you want to be part of.
“The club is moving forward. I do not think the transfer business is finished but it is good that we have got people in nice and early.
“For the chairman to offer me the extra year - hopefully I can play my role, whatever that might be. First and foremost, I want to get myself in that team and do my bit on the pitch.
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“Realistically, winning a trophy is an aim this season, next season… and into the future.
“We want to be competing for things.
“We have the European game coming up, we want to get through that, then we will look forward to competing in four competitions this season and performing in every one.”
Jagielka added: “I came back for pre-season and tried to get my fitness levels as high as possible, ready to compete for a place.
“It is always nice to have the potential of an extra year with the club - and it did not take to long for me to decide to sign.
“I was delighted to do so and I am looking forward to the journey over the next two years.
“It has been a fantastic time here but, hopefully, we will create some more special memories in the next two years and I can look back on my time at Everton with a smile on my face.”
The Toffees have been the surprise big spenders of the window so far.
The £75million sale of Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United has been offset by the arrivals of Wayne Rooney, Jordan Pickford, Keane and Davy Klaassen.
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Pickford and Keane both cost £30m while Klassen was £23.6m. Sandro Ramirez, Henry Onyekuru and Cuco Martina have also arrived.
And Koeman is also closing on the protracted signature of Swansea midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson for nearly £50m.
