Sigurdsson completes record £45 million move to Everton

The 27-year-old penned a five-year contract worth a reported £100,000 a week to become Everton's record signing, topping the £31.8 million it paid Chelsea for Romelu Lukaku in 2014.

Published : Aug 17, 2017 01:04 IST , London

Sigurdsson has also played 50 times for Iceland, helping his country to the Euro 2016 quarterfinals.
Sigurdsson has also played 50 times for Iceland, helping his country to the Euro 2016 quarterfinals.
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Sigurdsson has also played 50 times for Iceland, helping his country to the Euro 2016 quarterfinals.

Everton signed Iceland midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson from Premier League rival Swansea for a club record £45 million ($58m, 49.4m euros) on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old penned a five-year contract worth a reported £100,000 a week to become Everton's record signing, topping the £31.8 million it paid Chelsea for Romelu Lukaku in 2014.

"Hopefully I will continue to create goals and score goals for the team and contribute to the kind of success we're seeking at the club," Sigurdsson told e vertontv.

 

"This is an ambitious club and it is clear we are moving in a really good direction. The most important thing is that this team keeps winning games and climbing the table and does that throughout the season."

Sigurdsson, who played a pivotal role in Swansea retaining its Premier League status last term after scoring nine goals and creating 13, pulled out of its pre-season tour to the United States and was not included in the squad for last weekend's 0-0 draw with Southampton.

Swansea had already turned down two bids from Everton as well as rejecting a reported £40 million offer from 2016 champion Leicester City at the beginning of the summer.

Sigurdsson joined Swansea on loan in January 2012 from German club Hoffenheim before a permanent transfer to the South Wales club collapsed and Tottenham signed him for two years.

After making 58 top-flight appearances for Spurs, he rejoined Swansea for a second spell and spent three seasons at the Liberty Stadium.

He has also played 50 times for Iceland, helping his country to the Euro 2016 quarterfinals.

Everton coach Ronald Koeman has now spent over £100 million in recruiting Sigurdsson, former favourite Wayne Rooney, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (£30m), midfielder Davy Klaassen (£23.6m), defender Michael Keane (£30m), Cuco Martina and Sandro Ramirez.

However, a considerable proportion of the spending has been financed by the £75 million sale of Lukaku to Manchester United.

"It took some time but finally we have signed the player (Sigurdsson)," Koeman said.

"In my opinion, in his position he is one of the best in the Premier League. We have the player here and that's really good for the team."

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