Ashley Williams to leave Everton

Everton have announced defender Ashley Williams will leave Goodison Park at the end of June.

Wales captain Williams, 34, who spent last season on loan at Stoke, made 73 appearances during his three-year spell at Everton.

“Everton can confirm Ashley Williams will leave the club when his current contract expires at the end of the month,” the Toffees said on their official website.

Fellow central defender Phil Jagielka revealed on Tuesday that he was also leaving Goodison after 12 years with the club.

Williams signed a three-year deal when he joined Everton in 2016 from Swansea, where he had spent the previous eight years.

He punctured a lung and broke several ribs during Wales’ goalless friendly draw in Mexico in May 2018 and joined Stoke on a season-long loan the following August.

Ashley Williams played on loan at Stoke last season

Ashley Williams played on loan at Stoke last season (Martin Rickett/PA)

Williams, who made 37 appearances for the Potters, has been included in Wales’ squad for the Euro 2020 qualifiers in Croatia on Saturday and in Hungary on Tuesday.

Everton confirmed Williams’ departure when releasing their retained list.

Left-back Leighton Baines has been offered a new one-year deal, the club said.

Leighton Baines

Leighton Baines has been offered a new deal at Goodison Park (Peter Byrne/PA)

Under-23s players Harry Charsley, Boris Mathis, Mateusz Hewelt, Shayne Lavery, Jack Kiersey, Danny Bramall, Joe Hilton and Chris Renshaw have all been released, but striker Bassala Sambou has been offered a new contract.

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