Pickford signs as Everton splash £70m
EVERTON have shown their intent to muscle in on the Premier League’s top four by embarking on a £70million spending spree.
In an astonishing day of business at Goodison Park yesterday, manager Ronald Koeman completed the club-record £30m signing of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford from Sunderland before announcing the £23.6m capture of Ajax midfielder Davy Klaassen, both on five-year deals.
Winger M’Baye Niang is also expected to join from AC Milan for £15.7m after he attended the club’s Finch Farm training ground yesterday with Klaassen.
Koeman said of his fellow Dutchman: ‘He’s a player who is only 24 but has a lot of experience and is a leader on the pitch.
He has already captained Ajax for two seasons and that shows you the type of person he is.
‘He is hardworking, likes to press and, of course, will give us more creativity and goals. It is another major signing for Everton and I am really happy.’
Klaassen said: ‘I spoke a few weeks ago with Ronald Koeman about Everton.
I wanted to come here and check if this was the right club for me and since I came here I feel so happy.
It’s a great club. ‘I’m an attacking midfielder who likes to get in the box. I also like to be aggressive on the field and press all the time. I like to score and create goals and I like to win.
I have a good feeling about it.’ Everton are ready to invest more than £100m over the summer, with Swansea’s Gylfi Sigurdsson and Burnley defender Michael Keane also in their sights.
Pickford, who is with the England Under 21s in Kielce, Poland, became the third most expensive goalkeeper in history after Gianluigi Buffon and Manchester City new boy Ederson.
He said: ‘It’s a great opportunity and the right time to come to Everton and show what I can do. I just want to be the best I can to help.’