Tarkowski signs new Everton deal and eyes Europe

James Tarkowski made his England debut in 2018

Everton defender James Tarkowski has signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him at the club until 2028.

The 32-year-old joined on a free transfer from Burnley in 2022 and has made 128 appearances for the Toffees.

Tarkowski, capped twice by England, was named vice-captain of the club in 2023.

After an unbeaten start to life at their new stadium this term, Tarkowski says Everton can achieve European qualification under David Moyes.

"It's been a crazy few years with some big lows and some massive highs. We've managed to get through those tough times and hopefully now we're on to more positive and exciting times ahead," said Tarkowski.

"It's always been an ambition of mine to play European football. I had a brief spell with Burnley in the qualifiers but we didn't make it to the group stages, so I want to get there.

"It's the manager's goal, it's our goal as a team and, so far, we've started pretty well. Of course, it could have been better but we've had a decent start and we're definitely striving to get into those European spots and bring European football to our new stadium."

Tarkowski has started all seven of Everton's Premier League matches this term, with Moyes' side eighth in the table.

'A model of consistency' - analysis

Matthew Hobbs, BBC Sport journalist

Tarkowski's new Everton deal is just reward for a player of model consistency - both in terms of availability and performance.

Prior to sustaining a hamstring injury that caused him to miss the final five games of last season, the centre-back had made 111 consecutive Premier League appearances without missing a match - the longest run of any outfield player during that period and the fourth-longest run by a non-goalkeeper in the competition's history.

When Tarkowski began this campaign in the heart of Everton's defence, he had perhaps not quite fully recovered from injury and his early outings at the start of this season were not quite as dominant as supporters had come to expect.

However, the 32-year-old has been a brilliant performer since joining the Toffees on a free transfer from Burnley in July 2022 and is someone who does arguably not get the same level of recognition as defenders at some of the more recently successful clubs - despite dominating most combative metrics since his move to Merseyside.

Tarkowksi leads all Premier League outfield players since the start of 2022-23 for clearances, headed clearances, blocks and aerial duels won - ranking ahead of the likes of Arsenal's Gabriel and Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk in those metrics.

While not being renowned for goals, Tarkowski has scored at least once in the past seven Premier League seasons - and he saved his 2024-25 contribution for something special, equalising in the 98th minute in the final men's Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.