Fellaini signs for 5 years at Everton

[MichaelCorleone]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/...d=football

Everton ended their summer-long search for a central midfielder in dramatic fashion last night when they secured a club record deal for Marouane Fellaini of Standard Liège. The 20-year-old agreed a five-year contract with the Goodison Park club only an hour before the transfer deadline, easing the manager David Moyes' growing frustration at his lack of big-money recruits.

Fellaini, a Belgium international, will cost about £15m after a day of extensive negotiations that resulted in Everton eclipsing their previous record outlay of £11.25m on Yakubu Ayegbeni. Moyes has been desperate to sign a powerful, young and industrious midfielder since releasing Lee Carsley at the end of last season and, along with several Premier League managers, was alerted by Fellaini's impressive performances against Liverpool in the Champions League qualifying round.

The Belgian champions have been drawn to face Everton in the first round of the Uefa Cup but having been thwarted in his attempts to lure Joao Moutinho from Sporting Lisbon and Stéphane M'Bia of Rennes, Moyes will now have Fellaini on his side when he attempts to reach the group stages of the competition.

The record purchase will also ease some of the growing pressure on the Everton hierarchy after an arduous summer in the transfer market.

Everton also completed the signing of Louis Saha from Manchester United after the French forward passed an extensive medical conducted over the weekend and was declared fit to complete the move despite being unavailable to play at present with a calf strain. "He's had injury problems and if he had been playing every game we wouldn't be getting him for next to nothing," said Moyes. "There will be some money after he's played games, but there is no initial outlay."

However, Everton were dealt a setback in trying to sign the Nigerian winger Victor Obinna from Internazionale when the application for a work permit was rejected. Inter bought the 21-year-old Olympic silver medallist from Chievo last month but were willing to send him out on a season-long loan. Moyes, his chairman Bill Kenwright and the club secretary David Harrison all attended the hearing in London yesterday and although they made a strong case the appeal was rejected because the player fell short of the required criteria of international experience.

Moyes also brought Wigan's third-choice goalkeeper Carlo Nash to Everton as experienced cover for Tim Howard on an initial two-year contract for a nominal fee and inquired about the Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant, who rejected the chance to move to Stoke City for £5m.

[cahillwilsaveus]

I told yez, but yez won't listen!!!!

[Ste EFC]

(09-02-2008 01:09 AM)cahillwilsaveus Wrote:  I told yez, but yez won't listen!!!!

Why has it not been confirmed then?

[MichaelCorleone]

(09-02-2008 01:12 AM)Ste EFC Wrote:  

(09-02-2008 01:09 AM)cahillwilsaveus Wrote:  I told yez, but yez won't listen!!!!

Why has it not been confirmed then?

I can just see us not submitting the paperwork in time.

[Steve Blue]

WE MIGHT NOT HAVE THE CONFIRMATION BACK YET

[1878evertonian]

the FA are probably too busy with all the mancs and the toons paperwork... our will be last :S

[efcjp]

Stil nothing on ssn all about bobatov and robinho

[cahillwilsaveus]

(09-02-2008 01:12 AM)MichaelCorleone Wrote:  

(09-02-2008 01:12 AM)Ste EFC Wrote:  

(09-02-2008 01:09 AM)cahillwilsaveus Wrote:  I told yez, but yez won't listen!!!!

Why has it not been confirmed then?

I can just see us not submitting the paperwork in time.

He mifgt be having a medical!!!!!

[southeasterntoffee]

its on standard lieges official website.....its in french but it clearly states we have signed him on a 5 year contract

[efcjp]

(09-02-2008 01:32 AM)southeasterntoffee Wrote:  its on standard lieges official website.....its in french but it clearly states we have signed him on a 5 year contract

Seen that but checked all the morning papers and a few websites f*** all about us as usuall nothing new