Ashley Young has opened up on his excitement at the prospect of playing in front of the Goodison Park crowd as an Everton player and says he’s confident he can continue to compete at the "highest level". 

The former Manchester United and Inter Milan defender joined on a free transfer last week, agreeing a one-year deal until the end of June 2024.  

Young has accumulated an impressive 422 Premier League appearances throughout his esteemed career, meaning he brings crucial experience to the Club. After switching from a winger to full-back on either side of the pitch, he can also play multiple roles and says he will embrace any position manager Sean Dyche will want him in this season. 

Young's effectiveness was evident last season as he played 29 Premier League matches - starting 23 times - for an Aston Villa that finished seventh in the table.

His 75.5 per cent tackle success ranked him among the highest three per cent for his position across Europe’s top five leagues. The defender also featured in the top 11 per cent for shots blocked and the highest 14 per cent for clearances.

“It’s one of those things being versatile,” Young explained to evertonfc.com. “A lot of managers will change formations and rely on players to play different positions.   

“As time has gone on, I’ve played as a wing-back, whether that be right or left. I can play as a right-back or left-back, too. Wherever a manager needs me, I know I can go and do a job at a high level."

Young added: “You have to work on things, they don’t come straight away when you play different positions. But as long as you work on it in training, you can get yourself better and better. I think it’s about understanding and having a good football brain, to know what position to play and where to be. I think I have got that so I can use it alongside.”  

Young reunites with Dyche at Everton, with the boss having previously played alongside and captained him at Watford.

Everton's newest recruit admits he is looking forward to having his ex-teammate as his manager, believing Dyche always displayed standout leadership qualities even before stepping into management.   

“Dyche was a leader from day one when he joined the Watford,” said Young. “During the time he was captain there, he was fantastic.   

“He was hard, but he was fair. I’ve always looked back and said it was tough playing in the same team as him, he made you work. But you get the benefits and you look back now as I do and think he helped me massively starting out in my career. I am thankful to him.”  

En route to amassing his 39 international caps for England, Young also played alongside new Everton teammate Jordan Pickford - the duo starting for the Three Lions when they reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 - and says that familiarity with him, along with others in the squad, will help his settling-in process at the Club.   

“I think when you get to my age, you start to know a lot of players,” he added. “It’s always vitally important to know a few players. I played with Picks during the World Cup. There are quite a few others I’ve played with as well, so it’s nice to know players and to be able to settle in straight away.” 

Young has faced Everton on 19 occasions in his career, eight of which came at Goodison Park. However, the 38-year-old admits the prospect of playing there once again in royal blue is going to be a completely different experience.  

“I can’t wait for the season to start, and for training to start,” he revealed. “Walking out at Goodison Park is going to be an unbelievable feeling and to hear the fans behind you… it’s going to be incredible.”