Fulham sign Alex Iwobi from Everton late on deadline day for a deal worth up to £22m… as the Nigeria international reveals why he is ‘buzzing’ to be reunited with former boss Marco Silva
- Alex Iwobi signed for Fulham late on the deadline on a £22 million contract
- The Nigerian international played 123 Premier League games for Everton
- Fulham complete the signing despite Joao Palhinha remaining at the club
Alex Iwobi is reunited with Marco Silva at Craven Cottage after Fulham finalize the signing of the Everton midfielder in a deal that could be worth £22 million.
The Nigeria international signed a five-year contract with the Cottagers and said Silva had been instrumental in convincing him to move back to London.
“I’m excited, can’t wait to get started, I’m excited to start my journey here,” he told Fulham’s official website.
Marco Silva spoke to me about the Club’s ambitions and I support them. Hopefully I can add something to the Club.’
Silva signed Iwobi from Arsenal to Everton in the summer of 2019, but the Portuguese was sent off three months later with the Toffees 18th on the table.
Alex Iwobi has signed for Fulham from Everton late on deadline day in a £22 million contract
Your browser does not support iframes.
In four seasons with the club, Iwobi made 123 Premier League appearances for Everton, scoring six goals. He was named the Players Player of the Season and was one of the Toffees’ best players as Everton narrowly avoided relegation.
The 27-year-old played the full 90 minutes as Everton lost 1-0 at home to Fulham on the opening day of the Premier League season.
But he suffered a hamstring injury in Everton’s 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa and missed his former club’s 1-0 defeat at home to Wolves last week.
The Nigeria international arrived at Craven Cottage despite Joao Palhinha’s move to Bayern Munich collapsing earlier on the deadline.
The German club made an initial offer of £47 million, but this was subsequently rejected by the London club, who had initially priced him at £90 million.
The move fell through as the London club failed to find a replacement in time – not helped by the German window closing earlier than the English one.
Fulham wanted to keep Palhinha, although the player was ready to leave. Bayern made a bid that would have ‘easily’ broken Fulham’s transfer record – up to £70 million.
The Cottagers also signed a loan deal for Fode Ballo-Toure, the left back of AC Milan and Senegal.
The Nigerian international will be reunited with Marco Silva, who signed him at Everton
The 26-year-old has made just 26 appearances in all competitions for the Serie A giants in the past two seasons after joining from Monaco.
Meanwhile, Everton also parted ways with Tom Cannon on Friday, with the striker leaving for Leicester City for an undisclosed fee.
Cannon first joined the Toffees academy aged ten and made his senior team debut against Bournemouth in November last year before spending the second half of last season on loan at the Championship at Preston North End, scoring eight goals in 21 matches.
“Everyone at Everton wishes Tom the very best for the future,” the club said in a statement.
(TagsToTranslate)dailymail