Everton defender, Jonjoe Kenny has penned an emotional farewell letter to club supporters following his decision to leave the club.
Having scored twice in 140 appearances under eight different managers since making his debt on the final day of 2015-16 season, Kenny has decided to depart the club on 1 July following expiration of his contract to join Hertha Berlin on a free transfer.
The 25 year-old right-back who was born and raised in Liverpool just ‘a two-minute walk’ from Goodison Park, has penned an emotional farewell letter to club supporters in which he spoke of his time at Everton as ‘living the dream’ after growing up on the doorstep of the Toffees.
Kenny proceeded to reflect on his journey from having joined Everton Academy at the age of nine years old to playing for the senior team, as he proclaimed: ‘It’s a club I love, a club I was brought up on.’
Last season though saw Everton successfully fight against relegation despite only clinching survival in their and ultimately his final home match of the season, which saw them stage a dramatic comeback to beat Crystal Palace 3-2 after having sat 2-0 down at half-time.
Supporters pre-match provided a carnival atmosphere which Kenny in particular placed high importance on in his farewell letter, as he said: ‘I’ll always remember the journey to Goodison for the Crystal Palace game at the end of last season.
‘We were driving in from our hotel, and you go down Scotland Road and past the little football cages where I used to play as I kid.
‘I know that game was nerve-wracking and none of us wanted to be in that situation, but to go from that kid playing in those cages to playing for Everton Football Club in such a big match…I just had a moment where I thought, ‘You’ve done alright’.
‘I’ll never forget those last few weeks of the season. I think it was in that moment when I knew that I was ready to maybe move on for a new chapter, because I felt like I kept getting a bit emotional, especially when I was seeing the fans.
‘It did keep bringing a little bit of a tear to my eye because I knew that might be the end. They were lovely moments that were great for me and to see that reaction of everyone coming together.
‘The funny thing was, I knew a lot of the people who were outside cheering on the team coach. I knew who they were and what it meant to them.
‘Just to be part of that, seeing the fans where I grew up as a kid…it was emotional. Now I look back and can be really, really proud of what myself and my family achieved. It meant so much to me to have played for Everton. There were tough moments, of course, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.’
Kenny also praised the club for providing ‘brilliant’ coaches who helped instil his ‘biggest asset’ as a player of having ‘that mentality of not giving up and working hard.’
Kenny also used to play as a centre-back but spoke of pride at how he had ‘the right people’ in his support circle to provide help when suffering setbacks in life and in football, whilst ensuring that ‘the kids be kids and enjoy their football.’
Despite only playing 14 matches under current Everton manager – Frank Lampard, Kenny described Lampard as ‘different class’ who ensured that he felt ‘valued’ plus ‘a big part of the team’ with increased game time and leadership due to his experience rising through Everton’s Academy.
Kenny though felt that he is ready for regular game time at Hertha Berlin and expressed a desire of having ‘more dreams that I want to go on and achieve.’
Having spent 2019-20 season on loan in Germany at Schalke 04, Kenny also knows the German culture but is excited by this fresh start as he commented: ‘I’m looking forward to the challenge at Hertha Berlin. It’s going to be completely different. New city, picking up the language again.
‘It’s not like I’m on loan and you can just go back, you’re fully leaving Everton.’
During his time in Berlin, Kenny has also set himself a personal task of learning to fluently speak the German language, despite being ‘a Scouser in Berlin,’ which isn’t common but something that he wants to achieve on a personal level.
Kenny though has vowed not to forget his time and friends at Everton which he described as a club that ‘is all I’ve known, all I’ve ever done.’
The 25 year-old eventually summed up his time on Merseyside playing for his childhood club as he concluded: ‘I’m a Scouser who achieved his dream of playing for Everton. It’s been a fantastic ride and I’m so grateful to everyone at this great club.’