Everton have officially handed James Tarkowski the captain’s armband for the 2026/27 Premier League season, confirming what has been one of the worst-kept secrets in English football for the past few weeks.
The 33-year-old centre-back steps into the role vacated by Seamus Coleman. Tarkowski’s appointment is less a surprise and more a formality, given that he already wore the armband in 36 of 37 Premier League matches last season.
A captaincy earned on the pitch
Tarkowski joined Everton on a free transfer from Burnley in July 2022, arriving without the fanfare that typically accompanies marquee signings but with a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most reliable defenders.
Starting all 37 Premier League matches he featured in during the 2025/26 campaign, Tarkowski was the definition of a manager’s first-choice pick.
