Wayne Rooney returns to boyhood club Everton
England and Manchester United’s record goalscorer Wayne Rooney declared himself ‘ecstatic’ after completing a move back to Everton the club where he first starred as a teenager on Sunday.
The 31-year-old — who had become a peripheral figure under Jose Mourinho last season — signed a two-year contract on a free transfer according to the BBC bringing the curtain down on 13 trophy-laden years at Old Trafford.
Rooney — whose move comes the day after United announced they had agreed to terms with Everton over buying their leading scorer Romelu Lukaku — will hope the switch revives his international career which also stalled last season.
“It is some time since I said that the only Premier League club I would play for other than Manchester United was Everton, so I am delighted that the move has happened,” he said in a statement to the Press Association.
“Thirteen years ago I went to United with the intention of winning trophies and I have been fortunate to be a part of one of the most successful periods in the club’s history.
“I have come back to Everton because I believe (Everton manager) Ronald Koeman is building a team that can win something and I look forward to playing my part in making that a reality for the club I have supported since a boy,” added the six-time leading scorer for Manchester United. Koeman said in Rooney — who in his time at United won among other trophies five Premier League titles and a Champions League — he was buying a player with a surefire winner’s mentality.
‘Fantastic servant to United’
Mourinho for his part said he admired Rooney but understood both his desire for playing more football and to return to the club that nurtured his talent.
“It is no secret that I have long been an admirer of Wayne,” said Mourinho.
“It is never easy to see a great player playing less football than he would like and I could not stand in his way when he asked to go back to Everton.
United’s vice-chairman Ed Woodward paid a handsome valedictory tribute to Rooney.
“Wayne has been a fantastic servant to United since the moment he signed for us as a prodigiously talented, explosive teenager some 13 seasons ago,” said Woodward.
“He goes having created some of the most magical moments in some of the most successful years in
the club’s history”
Rooney first burst onto the scene aged just 16 at Everton and went on to score 17 goals in 77 appearances for the ‘Toffees’ sparking then United manager Alex Ferguson’s interest, who brought him to Old Trafford for £27 million in 2006.