Tony Hibbert has hit out at Everton, claiming he and colleague Leon Osman only found out they were being released this summer via the club's official website.
Hibbert, who has been at Everton for 25 years and made his debut for the club in 2001, told the Daily Mail he was "embarrassed" by his treatment.
The 35-year-old joined the club at the age of 10 and went on to make 328 first-team appearances -- but he said nobody at Goodison Park had informed him of the decision to let him go.
"I was with my dad and brother when my wife rang to say she'd been getting text messages from friends to say I wasn't being retained. It was on the website," he said.
"I couldn't believe it, so I rang a friend at the club to check. They said: 'Tony, I honestly don't know why nobody has spoken to you.'
"I contacted Leon and he was in exactly the same boat."
Hibbert said he was "really hurt" and added: "I'd rather have been told at any point during the season there wouldn't be a new contract so I'd have a chance to plan my future and say a proper farewell.
"No player deserves this, whether they've been at a club for five minutes or 25 years."
The right-back said he felt Everton "hasn't got the same feeling" since the departure of former manager David Moyes in 2013.
"It is a dog eat dog culture now," he added. "People are only looking out for themselves.
"I feel embarrassed. Everything from the club feels like a new smack in the face."