James Tarkowski's new Everton deal is just reward for a player of model consistency - both in terms of availability and performance. Before 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 - the longest run of any outfield player at that time and the fourth-longest such run 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 were not quite as dominant as supporters had come to expect.
James Tarkowski's new Everton deal is just reward for a player of model consistency - both in terms of availability and performance.
Before 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 - the longest run of any outfield player at that time and the fourth-longest such run 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 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 arguably does 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 in 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.
Category: General Sports
