Everton have signed Colombia star midfielder James Rodriguez from Real Madrid in a deal worth £20m.
Rodriguez, 29, joins Everton on a two-year contract, with the option for a further season.
He signed for Real Madrid from Monaco in 2014 after winning the Golden Boot at the World Cup in Brazil that summer.
Commenting on his move Rodriguez said: “I am really, really happy to be at this great club, a club with so much history, and here with a manager who knows me really well.
“I’m looking forward to achieving great things here – and winning things, which is what everyone’s aim is.
“I’ve come here to try to improve, to get better. I’ve also come here to help the team to win, to play good football – entertaining football.”
Rodriguez, who was entering the last year of his contract with the Spanish champions, featured 14 times for Zinedine Zidane’s side last season.
It is the third time he has been signed by Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti, having joined the Italian at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Rodriguez added:”I’m convinced, with Carlo and his technical staff, we can achieve big things and one of the big reasons [I signed] was the presence of Carlo Ancelotti.
“I have enjoyed some great times with him previously at two different clubs. That was a massive reason to come here.”
Ancelotti said: “James, as everyone knows, is a fantastic player with a lot of quality and a lot of ability to make assists for the strikers.
“He’s really excited about the project of the club and the fact we want to improve. He was really excited to sign and I didn’t spend time to convince him – he was already convinced.”
Rodriguez is part of an ambitious Ancelotti rebuilding programme at Everton, with the Toffees having signed Napoli’s combative Brazil international Allan and agreed a fee for Watford’s French midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure.
Rodriguez had already established a strong reputation across Europe before 2014, courtesy of his time at Porto and Monaco.
He won the Portuguese league three years running before the age of 21, during which time he became the youngest to win the division’s player of the year award, aged 20, in 2012, before Monaco bought him for £38.5m.
He scored 10 goals and made 14 assists in 38 appearances for Monaco before impressing on the global stage, scoring six goals to win the World Cup Golden Boot in Brazil in 2014 and secure a move to Real Madrid.
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COMMENTS
Iwobi ooooooo Hian
… It’s time Iwobi upped his game! His end product mostly…
Iwobi needs to improve if possible get your self a private coach to practice shooting skills with you. Bcos dats the only teknic i feel you are lacking. If you can get your shooting right, the sky will be your limit. Apart from that you are more skillfull and energetic than who so ever in that team. Including rodriguez. Shooting right was also an isue with your uncle, but with time after alot practices he became the master, just dont give up, keep trying hard and dont be goal shy.
His uncles own dey fly up, Iwobi own dey fly sideways
I fear for Iwobi…hmmmmm
Gbam! Everton have also signed Watford Midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure. Iwobi chances getting more dim in that team if he continues with his chicken leg kinda display this season. He needs to improve! Iwobi needs to improve! I don’t know if he has got no advisers to let this thing sink into his head
Wow! James Rodriguez and now Doucoure, Everton are really shoring up ahead of next season.
Hopefully their new recruits will gell with existing players to promote healthy competition for places and propel them higher in the league table this time around.
They can ill-afford not to get it right.
Isn’t this how they always buy players every season? Those shouting Iwobi this that…watch n see u think premiership is easy like that after he is not Everton problem they have good player bit just that the team did not just gel together.
Isn’t this how they always buy players every season? Those shouting Iwobi this that…watch n see u think premiership is easy like that afterall he is not Everton problem they have good player bit just that the team did not just gel together.
Blind Argument. You don’t love a player when you see the truth and fail to admit it. National Team is not same as Club. Iwobi is doing well in the National team but it is clear and obvious that he is not doing well in his Club! The stats are there. Come to the worst when you watch him play at Everton, you can’t but just agree with the Fans calling for his head. We all know, if not for his love for the Country, good track record at National team, and the Jay-Jay link, he would have been dropped in Super Eagles matches if we are to go by stats. Iwobi needs to improve in his club. Simple.