Yannick Bolasie has become Everton’s fourth summer signing after completing his £30 million switch from Selhurst Park to Goodison Park.
The Crystal Palace winger has signed a five-year contract with the Merseyside outfit and could make his Toffees debut against West Brom this weekend. Despite only being a game into the new season, it will be Bolasie’s second run-out against the Baggies already. He replaced Lee Chung-yong in a 1-0 defeat to Tony Pulis’ men on Saturday.
After the match Alan Pardew told the BBC Bolasie’s ‘heart and soul’ were elsewhere and so it was only right to allow the 27-year-old to leave with their best wishes.
Yannick Bolasie completes £30m move to Everton
Background
Born in Lyon, Bolasie moved to London when he was seven-months-old with his parents, who are of Congolese origin.
Starting his career with Rushden and Diamonds, Bolasie had short spells with Hillingdon Borough and Maltese team, Floriana. In 2008, Plymouth Argyle signed him to an initial two-year contract. While making over 50 appearances for Argyle, scoring eight times, he also spent a season on loan at Barnet.
Though the Bees wanted to keep him, the pacy winger had done enough in his 41 League Two appearances to earn a place in the Argyle squad. Unable to help maintain Plymouth’s Championship status, he would return to the second tier a year later with Bristol City.
He scored once in just 23 appearances for Bristol, as they finished a disappointing 20th place. At the season’s end, Bolasie requested a transfer as he wished to move back to London. Crystal Palace came calling and with Bolasie’s help, secured promotion to the Premier League in their first season together.
But his Premier League bow had to wait until October 2013. And a month later he was sent off in a 1-0 win over Hull. Despite a slow start to his Premier League career, in the two seasons that followed he did show himself to be capable on either flank.
In a 3-2 win against his new club at Goodison Park in September 2014, Bolasie netted his first top-flight goal. The highlight of his career came later that season. A 4-1 rout at the Stadium of Light saw Bolasie score an 11-minute hat-trick. He remains the only Palace player to score a hat-trick in the Premier League era.
Bolasie’s role and Palace’s reinvestment
Often accused of performing one trick too many and having a poor final ball, Bolasie proved himself to at least be a constant threat with his pace, power and directness. Everton showed in their 1-1 draw with Tottenham at the weekend how they will look to be more direct this season, utilising Gerard Deulofeu and Kevin Mirallas on the shoulder of the opposition’s defence.
While, naturally a winger, Bolasie has himself been used in a more central role during his time at Selhurst Park. As a manager renowned for regularly changing his team’s shape, Ronald Koeman will likely use his most recent signing in a range of different roles throughout the season.
Meanwhile, while Pardew admitted he’ll miss having Bolasie at the club, his departure may allow Palace to purchase a striker.
Christian Benteke, has been consistently linked with a big money move to The Eagles this summer. The Belgian striker struggled in his first season with Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp will allow him to leave.
