Football | Doucoure confirms Everton exit

Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure has confirmed that he'll leave the club when his contract expires this summer.

Doucoure has scored 21 goals in 165 appearances for the Toffees since joining the Premier League club from Watford in 2020.

The 32-year-old was visibly emotional after Everton's 2-0 win over Southampton on Sunday in their final home match at Goodison Park.

Doucoure confirmed his departure in a video uploaded to his Instagram page.

"Hi Evertonians, just wanted to share this message with you that I'm going to leave the football club at the end of the season," he said.

"After five wonderful years, my time at Everton came to an end. Everton means a lot for me. Obviously the past five years it's been hard but I will always remember my time as a dream for me, to play for Everton Football Club.

"Obviously I'm sad to leave the club but I think the time has come for a new chapter for me and the club as well and I will always be grateful for what the club did for me.

"My best memory, I will say it will be the goal I scored against Bournemouth to keep the club in the Premier League. I think this is something I will always be proud [of]. It was a wonderful moment for me and my family and for the club as well.

"I will miss the fans. I will miss the football club. I just wanted to let them know that I gave everything every single time in training, in games.

"I was always proud to wear the shirts, always proud to play at Goodison Park."

Doucoure scored an unforgettable winner to keep Everton in the Premier League in a 1-0 home win over Bournemouth in May 2023.

The former Mali international is in line to make his last ever appearance for the club on Sunday when David Moyes' side travel to Newcastle in their final league match of the season.

Ashley Young and Asmir Begovic have also confirmed their departures from the club this summer, and a number of other high-profile players including captain Seamus Coleman and striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin are also out of contract.