David Moyes says Everton’s emotional farewell to Goodison Park this weekend will be a significant moment in the club’s history, but insists the move is vital for a “bigger and better” future.
Sunday’s Premier League clash against Southampton will mark the men’s team’s final match at Goodison, their home since 1892. While the iconic stadium will no longer host top-flight men’s football, it has been given a new lease of life as the future home of Everton Women.
“It will be a sad day, and I think an emotional one for a lot of people,” Moyes said during his pre-match press conference. “But I’ve got to keep the players focused on the game and make sure we finish well.”
Reflecting on the stadium’s legacy, he added: “There have been great managers and players who have all performed here. I’m just the one shutting the door for the men’s team. But it’s great that the ladies will be joining us here—it gives the ground a new chapter.”
Everton are set to move to a new 53,000-capacity stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, a move that many hope will revitalise the club’s fortunes after years of financial struggles and relegation battles. Despite not winning a trophy for 30 years, fans are optimistic that the increased revenue and new ownership under the Friedkin Group will help reset the club’s trajectory.
Moyes also addressed ongoing contract negotiations, revealing that Seamus Coleman has extended his stay at the club. He expressed hope that key players like Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dominic Calvert-Lewin would also agree new deals.
“We’re down the road with quite a few situations,” he said. “There’s a lot going on behind the scenes. We’re just not quite there with announcements yet, but we’re not far away.”
As Everton prepare to leave behind one of English football’s most historic grounds, Moyes believes the move will ultimately be worthwhile.
“It will be sad when it goes, but we’re moving into something that we believe will give us a much better future,” he said.