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Everton announce Onyekuru deal
Deal confirmed
The Blues beat off competition from Arsenal, Paris St Germain and West Ham to land the 20-year-old who has signed a five-year contract to become the club's third signing of the summer following the acquisitions of Jordan Pickford and Davy Klaassen earlier this month.
Onyekuru, who finished joint-top scorer in the Belgian league last season, will spend the 2017-18 season with champions Anderlecht where he will wear the No.9 jersey.
“I feel very happy and delighted with this move to Everton,” the player told SCORENigeria earlier this week after he came through a medical at Finch Farm and finalised personal terms.
“I am delighted because my first target of signing for a Premier League team has materialised.
“It wasn't an easy decision to make for me, but with the advise of top players and proper studying of the other offers.
“It is a great deal for me.”
Born in Onitsha, Nigeria, Onyekuru, who wears the name "Henry" on his jersey, was picked up by the Qatar-funded Aspire Zone Foundation to develop when he was 13 before moving him to Eupen, the club they purchased in 2010.
To date he is the most promising product of the Aspire academy and he almost secured a move to Celtic during the January transfer window but the Belgian club blocked the sale.
His transfer to Everton affords him the opportunity to continue his development in the Belgian league with Anderlecht potentially alongside the league's other top scorer last season, Åukasz Teodorczyk.
Although he views himself as a centre-forward and models himself on his hero Thierry Henry, Onyekuru has most often been used as a left-sided forward with Eupen. He earned his first Nigeria cap at the start of this month in a 3-0 win over Togo.
Reader Comments (28)
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2 Posted 30/06/2017 at 17:00:06
3 Posted 30/06/2017 at 17:11:50
Now for the rest. The Swansea player next!
4 Posted 30/06/2017 at 17:12:24
Well, it all remains to be proved whether he can emulate him, but at that price these days, it may well be worth, should I say risk, no, I think this lad may prove to be the real deal.
The fact that so many clubs were vying for him, including Arsenal, is all down, I believe, to the merits of Steve Walsh!
5 Posted 30/06/2017 at 17:13:33
W e l c o m e
6 Posted 30/06/2017 at 17:15:22
7 Posted 30/06/2017 at 17:21:54
8 Posted 30/06/2017 at 17:32:47
9 Posted 30/06/2017 at 17:48:01
I will start the ball rolling with the Piranhas Tom Hark...Oneye. Kuru, Onye Kuru.
Over to you guys and gals.
10 Posted 30/06/2017 at 17:53:56
11 Posted 30/06/2017 at 18:44:38
12 Posted 30/06/2017 at 18:47:11
13 Posted 30/06/2017 at 18:57:34
He looks a helluva talent, even in a poor team and in a league that isn't considered a 'powerhouse' of European football, although they currently have a rich generation of talent.
Shrewd to get the deal done now at a knocked down price and loan him to Anderlecht, Belgian's reigning champions, who go straight into Champions League group stage next season.
Allows him to get more experience, as well as get more games under his belt for Nigeria so there is no issue with his work permit in 12 months time.
I expect a flurry of further signings next week to sooth the nerves of those TWers given to deep anxiety in every transfer window.
Good summer thus far.
14 Posted 30/06/2017 at 19:18:33
15 Posted 30/06/2017 at 19:22:13
What happens if Anderlecht fail to stay in the Champions League and play in Europa League, then Everton face them?
16 Posted 30/06/2017 at 19:54:50
Great to have him on board. Looks a flyer. Also smart move loaning him back, even tho we had too.
What a great window for us so far.
17 Posted 30/06/2017 at 19:55:51
18 Posted 30/06/2017 at 20:04:42
We are carefully building an exciting pool of young players, all of whom seem to have proper priorities. This shows a serious strategy for the future and there is reason to hope that the "drop out" rate will be a good deal lower than it has been.
19 Posted 01/07/2017 at 08:56:29
20 Posted 01/07/2017 at 11:28:25
Onyekuru is a blue, Onyekuru scores a few,
On the ground or in the air,
You look around and Henry's there...
21 Posted 01/07/2017 at 11:31:10
22 Posted 01/07/2017 at 11:42:34
23 Posted 01/07/2017 at 12:06:38
This, if true, makes it even better, as he wants to play, and is not making money his sole motivation, indeed a rarity, in this modern football world!
Welcome aboard, although we will not see you, barring some twist, till next year. Be just like a new signing. :-)
24 Posted 01/07/2017 at 12:12:18
25 Posted 01/07/2017 at 20:20:16
26 Posted 02/07/2017 at 00:23:51
Yes, indeed he is an Arsenal fan. Ian Wright publicly displayed his annoyance after we snapped him up. He said that he has a real good feeling about this boy.
For those saying that the transfer of Deulofeu balancing this purchase out was good business, I may disagree with that. Geri had limited opportunities to show his worth (like the much reviled McGeady). I have a feeling that Barcelona may look to play him inside and not as a winger.
Geri delivered some of the best passes that I have seen in years for Everton (to Lukaku) from central positions. The boy has a great eye, understands the window of of opportunity, and has the ability to deliver the pass. I wish that we could have had him with us a bit longer to understand his true potential.
27 Posted 03/07/2017 at 01:45:26
The fact the best club in his league, a Champions League club. are taking him speaks volumes about the job he did last season.
A very exciting prospect, and just the sort of "Steve Walsh signing" we've been hoping for.
28 Posted 03/07/2017 at 02:43:55
Can't wait to see him in Blue.
I'm guessing I'll be one of so many in here tracking Leverkusen this season.
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1 Posted 30/06/2017 at 16:58:29