Season › 2022-23 › News Begovic signs off after two years with Everton Lyndon Lloyd 03/06/2023 57comments | Jump to last Asmir Begovic won't be staying on at Everton and will leave the club as a free agent this summer. The Bosnia-Herzegovina international was signed by Rafael Benitez on a free transfer in 2021 and played 10 times for the Blues, either as the designated League Cup goalkeeper or in place of Jordan Pickford when the England star was injured. His initial deal was only for one season and he was offered another 12 months a year ago which he accepted but he and Everton will part ways this summer. He could be joined out the door by third-choice stopper Andy Lonergan but this not yet been confirmed. Begovic, 36 this year, does not have any plans to hang up his gloves and will likely search for a new team this summer but, in the meantime, he took to Instagram to say his goodbyes: Article continues below video content Thank you for the last two years and letting me be part of your club and embracing me as one of your own. It has been a pleasure to represent you all and be a part of your whole community. To all of the staff, players and most importantly, you the fans, thank you all, and all the very best. Up the Toffees. Yerry Mina, meanwhile, confirmed his departure from Goodison Park with a final farewell on social media. The Colombian's five-year contract expires this summer and he is expected to seek a move to the Continent, perhaps back to La Liga. Mina, hugely popular with Evertonians, managed to play the full 90 minutes of all four of the Blues' last games this past season after years of struggles with injury as the club secured its Premier League safety on the final day with victory over Bournemouth. Having given Everton the cushion of an extra point over Leicester and Leeds with his last-gasp goal at Wolves the week before, Mina made a vital intervention in the first half against the Cherries, bailing out his central-defensive partner James Tarkowski by deflecting Dominic Solanke's shot past the post. Mina wrote on Instagram: I would like to dedicate these lines to say goodbye to all of you and try to describe how I feel at this moment. Before the last game, I told you that we had one last mission together... and we did it! and we have achieved it! The union between the team and the fans has been spectacular. As it has always been throughout the history of this great club. Football is a wonderful sport and it always gives us the opportunity to improve and come back stronger. I want to thank you for every moment shared over the last five years, for every ovation and for making Goodison Park a magical place. I take with me the spectacular atmosphere at every game, the passion and respect you always show. Thank you to the club for their trust, and to all my team-mates and coaches. It has been an honour to have belonged to Everton and wherever I go I will be cheering for sure. You are in my heart.💙🤠Farewell @everton Reader Comments (57) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer () Tony Everan 1 Posted 03/06/2023 at 20:08:53 Thanks to Asmir. I wish him all the best wherever he goes, he never let us down when called upon. Colin Glassar 2 Posted 03/06/2023 at 20:14:51 Asmir, all the best mate. It looks like Lonnie Donegan is leaving as well. Jamie Crowley 3 Posted 03/06/2023 at 20:34:05 Probably the best back-up keeper I've seen wear Blue. Best of luck to him. Seemed entirely professional in his outlook and attitude, hope he succeeds and is happy wherever life takes him. Bill Gienapp 4 Posted 03/06/2023 at 20:43:19 A perfectly solid backup keeper. Didn't play much, but kept some important clean sheets when he did (Newcastle last season, West Ham this season). Kieran Kinsella 5 Posted 03/06/2023 at 20:53:15 Lonnie Donegan's father was a dustman. Southall? Pity to lose Begovic, a very good backup. Will Tryer step up? Gary Brown 6 Posted 03/06/2023 at 20:55:25 Time to give Tyrer the Number 2 role. Hopefully Welch, Warrington, Dobbin, Cannon and Mills get a chance to stake claims too. Paul Hewitt 7 Posted 03/06/2023 at 20:59:05 At this rate, we won't have any squad left. Kevin Naylor 8 Posted 03/06/2023 at 21:01:35 I don't understand this, cheap reliable back-up, surely he would have accepted a year's extension? Paul Hewitt 9 Posted 03/06/2023 at 21:03:09 Apparently Rangers want him. Kevin Naylor 10 Posted 03/06/2023 at 21:04:39 If he's been offered first-team football elsewhere then fair enough. Alan Johnson 11 Posted 03/06/2023 at 21:29:36 Wonder will he ride off on his wife's horse. Good luck to you both... Jim Lloyd 12 Posted 03/06/2023 at 21:32:12 Whenever I've seen him in the first team, he's done well for us, so good luck mate. wherever you go. Andrew McLawrence 13 Posted 03/06/2023 at 21:32:53 This time next week, we will have a squad of five. Ray Robinson 14 Posted 03/06/2023 at 21:37:19 A very good back-up keeper. Surely, we can't consider selling Pickford now? Roy Johnstone 15 Posted 03/06/2023 at 21:51:14 Classy exit for a good keeper. Good luck for the future. Shane Corcoran 16 Posted 03/06/2023 at 21:53:27 This is terrible news for Everton. We now have to sign a player that won't play……at least. Andrew Kelly 17 Posted 03/06/2023 at 23:25:46 Tom Heaton coming in as a backup is a cert now! Neil Tyrrell 18 Posted 04/06/2023 at 00:41:12 Ray beat me to it but this must mean Pickford is staying, right? Phil Lewis 19 Posted 04/06/2023 at 00:53:08 A decent keeper. It will be hard to find someone as good, who's prepared to wait in Pickford's shadow. Mind you there may be a few 'past their sell-by date' merchants looking for a cushy end-of-career position.Personally I'd prefer us to be coaching a dynamic youngster who's prepared to wait for his chance as Pickford's successor. Mike Gaynes 20 Posted 04/06/2023 at 02:00:30 I hear Joel Robles is looking for work. Steve Brown 21 Posted 04/06/2023 at 04:01:36 The first 16 wll be the only 16 soon!The big ones to attempt to get off the books are Gomes, Alli, Gbamin and Holgate. Craig Harrison 22 Posted 04/06/2023 at 04:04:44 Gbamin has already said he won't be back. Mal van Schaick 23 Posted 04/06/2023 at 06:12:02 A solid replacement for Pickford, he did his job well for us. Sorry to see him go, but good luck to him. Jerome Shields 24 Posted 04/06/2023 at 06:23:10 Everyone is being let go amongst the playing staff at this stage. Probably a few will be sold as well. Then we will see what the real ball game is. If only the Board were gone as fast. Mark Andersson 25 Posted 04/06/2023 at 06:33:11 Think they are preparing for the Championship. 🤔 Denis Richardson 26 Posted 04/06/2023 at 07:42:17 I would have kept him myself but I guess they want to clear the books as much as possible and players at the end of their contracts are low-hanging fruit. He did a decent job but I'm not going to lose sleep on him. Think that's 4 players gone now in total? More to come, I imagine. Lee Courtliff 27 Posted 04/06/2023 at 07:51:27 He was good for us in the few games he played, especially the Newcastle game last season. Good luck for the future. Neil Lawson 28 Posted 04/06/2023 at 09:07:51 Working out the logic is challenging. Presumably we will now be looking for a reliable replacement from amongst the free transfer options. I can not imagine that money is available for a keeper. It needs to be used elsewhere. Therein lies the rub. A quality replacement is crucial. Begovic was a keeper that you would have no qualms in promoting when required. Finding someone with his experience may be challenging as it's a big ask for a youngster to step up upon a regular basis. Not as if he currently has the greatest defence in front of him. Sam Hoare 29 Posted 04/06/2023 at 09:36:25 He has been a good second. I could see Dyche bringing in Tom Heaton. Or maybe Robles back? Or Jack Butland. Ian Bennett 30 Posted 04/06/2023 at 09:46:25 He was on 㿙k/pw as a back-up keeper apparently. Expect the replacement to be on a lot less. Iakovos Iasonidis 31 Posted 04/06/2023 at 10:31:31 He was a solid back-up, sometimes I felt more secure with him than with Pickford. Not keeping Coady and Begovic are two strange decisions for me. This team needs serious trimming but we started with the wrong players. There are so many who really have to go! I wouldn't mind so much if I knew there was serious transfer plan in order but can't see it yet. Peter Carpenter 32 Posted 04/06/2023 at 11:10:04 Yet another emotional and heartfelt farewell, they'll have me sobbing soon. Does anyone ever leave with "Fuck off Everton, you twats. Wish I'd never signed"? Maybe Dele Alli is preparing that one. Or maybe he just can't be arsed. Dupont Koo 33 Posted 04/06/2023 at 11:50:18 Agreed with you, Jamie @3, that Asmir is the best back-up keeper we've had. It appears that we need to make a cut on the salary for back-ups too, so we can't afford someone like Asmir. Gary @6, at this stage of his career, Harry Tyrer would be better served with a season-long loan with a Football League club (ideally a League One club, but a League Two club is fine too) that can afford him 30+ starts at the very least (40 would be ideal). I always prefer to have youngsters out on loan, learn the cold harsh "reality" of the world on a weekly basis (playing with and against pros that fight for their next contract). Look at Lewis Warrington and Tom Cannon, they made tremendous progress after playing in the trenches, week-in & week-out. Gary Brown 34 Posted 04/06/2023 at 12:05:51 Dupont, Harry Tyrer just completed a decent loan. Best bet for me is him training with Premier League players every single day and getting the cup games. I don't see any point in paying an aging back-up keeper ٟ-2M every year just to do just that anyway. Tony Abrahams 35 Posted 04/06/2023 at 12:47:19 They say you have got to be mad to be a keeper, but there can't be many better jobs than being the reserve goalie? Good luck Asmir, and hopefully the next keeper we sign has got a lot of your abilities. Will Mabon 36 Posted 04/06/2023 at 12:52:02 He's in that area of being too good as a pure backup, not good enough to displace a top-quality first 'keeper.Deserves a chance as a first-team regular at a good level if he wants it, so best of luck to him. Will Mabon 37 Posted 04/06/2023 at 12:54:55 Tony,yes, probably the ideal job for those with a purely commercial outlook on the game, at the right money. Steve Brown 38 Posted 04/06/2023 at 13:25:56 Tony @ 35, there is one job better than reserve keeper… 2nd reserve keeper.Andy Lonergan and the like have a fanastic job. Paid to train and then watch the games. Gary Brown 39 Posted 04/06/2023 at 13:35:04 Hopefully today's “Pickford to Spurs†rumours are utter shite. With comments like “Everton expect to receive around 㿔M†they'd appear to be exactly that. Wouldn't take anything less than a world goalie record, and why the fuck would he go to Spurs anyway? If Kane moves, they're mid-table at best. Derek Knox 40 Posted 04/06/2023 at 13:39:29 So Asmir is not a 'keeper'? :-)Agree with most – although he didn't get many opportunities, he always acquitted himself with an able display. Best of luck for the rest of his career, and thanks! Paul Kossoff 41 Posted 04/06/2023 at 15:05:14 Is it Moshiri and Bill leaking all this interesting news to hide the fact that we are not being bought by a billionaire and good times ar not close. I bet the next good news on here is Coleman, the man who for near three years has been wished out if this club by supporters who said he's finished has got a new contract. And the next one right in here please, enough already. Mike Gaynes 42 Posted 04/06/2023 at 17:20:06 Iakovos #31, you're assuming it was the club's decision. I doubt it.Bego's 36 and still has a season or two left in him, and I'd bet he just wants to play every week somewhere rather than letting his career wind down sitting on a bench. I read multiple reports back at the start of the year that Rangers were interested. Brian Wilkinson 43 Posted 04/06/2023 at 17:24:34 Peter@32, I cannot be 100% sure but I think Alex Nyarko may have uttered the exact words you mentioned. Ian Bennett 44 Posted 04/06/2023 at 17:47:48 Raya is going Spurs, so Pickford ain't going there.Weghorst, God no. Gary Brown 45 Posted 04/06/2023 at 18:22:15 Look at the headline “Everton DESPERATE to sign…..â€. If that alone doesn't tell you it's clickbait shite, not sure what will. Peter Carpenter 46 Posted 04/06/2023 at 18:43:59 Brian (45), and Schneiderlin. Will Mabon 47 Posted 04/06/2023 at 19:35:54 Don't know if it got a mention on TW but the previous Pickford rumour I heard a couple of days back, was him reputedly saying he wanted to stay here. Raymond Fox 48 Posted 04/06/2023 at 19:47:18 Him leaving does point to Pickford staying, I hope so.Depends on the funds though, Dyche might be forced to sell Pickford. Iakovos Iasonidis 49 Posted 04/06/2023 at 22:12:37 Mike Gaynes #42 you are propably right he may want to play his last 2-3 years, can't blame him. I believe his presence is the reason why Pickford raised his game over the last 2 seasons. Back-up keeper is a way more important role than most people think. Seb Niemand 50 Posted 04/06/2023 at 23:37:53 Good solid pro, a credit to himself and the club. Hope he lands somewhere nice. Marc Hints 51 Posted 05/06/2023 at 11:16:00 Liverpool – Alexis Mac AllisterEverton – Wout WeghorstI despair! Barry Hesketh 52 Posted 05/06/2023 at 11:45:03 Marc @51, Exactly what were you expecting? Avoiding relegation was only one element of the equation for Everton in order to stave off financial ruination. Profit and Sustainability issues still beset the club, we may well have to sell before we buy, even if the rumoured takeover happens. We will have an extremely lean squad at the start of the coming season, it will be lower in overall quality than at the start of last season, we will still be struggling to get results and once again avoiding the drop will be our only priority. If we fans don't realise that scenario from day one of the new season, then we are setting ourselves up for great disappointment. Marc Hints 53 Posted 05/06/2023 at 12:12:10 Barry #52Yes totally agree with you mate, just feels depressing when you read our Neighbours have signed a good player, and seeing on Twitter they are rebuilding their midfieldWhilst our club say nothing and do nothing. Just some communication would be nice… Mark Ryan 54 Posted 05/06/2023 at 14:32:15 Should be call Nowt Carthorse Paul Kossoff 55 Posted 05/06/2023 at 19:18:23 We are going to look pretty fucking stupid if Pickford goes. Why wasn't he offered a new contact on less wages? Phil Smith 56 Posted 05/06/2023 at 19:40:11 I'd rather go down playing the kids than hiring in mercenaries. Mike Gaynes 57 Posted 07/06/2023 at 17:15:46 Well, Bego's not going to Rangers. They signed Butland to a four-year deal. Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. How to get rid of these ads and support TW © ToffeeWeb