Everton have announced they have signed Morgan Schneiderlin from Manchester United on a four-and-a-half-year deal keeping him at the club until 2021.
Schneiderlin, 27, has been heavily linked with a move to Everton since being given the greenlight to end his Old Trafford misery this month and the Toffees finally made a breakthrough in their attempt to sign the Frenchman.
Ronald Koeman had previously expressed his disappointment at the club’s lack of transfer activity this month but will be pleased to have got this move over the line after agreeing a reported initial £22m deal that could rise to £24m with add-ons.
Schneiderlin told the club’s official website that he wanted to join “a club with big ambition and great expectations, to come in every day and work for something that you want to achieve because that’s what drives you forward.
“Everton is a big club in the history of English football. I’ve always loved the atmosphere in the stadium. I’ve always liked playing here. I can’t wait to play and to represent this great club.
“There is a manager in place here that I know, I know he can get the best out of me, I know his style and how he likes to play football. He was very good with me from the start and I enjoyed playing football under him.
“He was very good for me and, obviously, he was massive player in his playing days and you can only learn from the best. At Southampton he gave me some great advice to keep improving every day and it was a pleasure to work with him.
“We spoke with the manager and the people in place at Everton I understood immediately that they have a very good plan for the future of the football club. I just want to play football. I want to put my print on this club and do everything to get Everton where it belongs.”
Schneiderlin became renowned as one of the best central midfielders in the Premier League under Koeman at Southampton before securing a £25m move to United in 2015.
However, he was never first choice under Louis van Gaal and has dropped completely off the radar under Jose Mourinho this season. Despite the fact he has only played in 11 minutes of match action in the league this season, he has still completed more tackles and interceptions in the last five campaigns (772).
For more stats on Morgan Schneiderlin, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
