After weeks of speculation, Everton have finally announced the signing of former Swansea City midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson for a fee believed to be around £45 million. The 27-year-old midfielder has been wanted by the Merseyside club since the transfer window opened in June and has signed a five-year contract at Goodison Park and is line to make his debut for the club on Monday night, away at title hopefuls Manchester City.
Everton sign Gylfi Sigurdsson
Busy Window
Having already brought in the likes of Jordan Pickford and Michael Keane amongst others, the signing of Sigurdsson has taken Everton’s summer spending total to £133 million, a real sign of intent that the club want to improve on last season’s 7th place finish and break into the so called top 6 this season. With Tottenham failing to bring anyone in so far and Liverpool’s defensive troubles still haunting them, this season will give the club the best possible chance of finishing higher and Ronald Koeman is hoping the signing will have a great impact for the team.
“We wanted Gylfi because of his quality and his Premier League experience… He is what we need to find that balance in the team”.
Impact
In a three-year stint with Swansea City, Sigurdsson quickly became the Swans main threat in a side that lacked goals. Last season, the midfielder registered 9 league goals and a further 13 assists, playing a pivotal role in keeping the club up and he will be hoping that this season his performances can have an impact for the club at the opposite end of the league.
“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”
Having lost top goal scorer Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United, the final piece of the Jigsaw for Koeman was a playmaker and in Sigurdsson he has certainly got it. The midfielder has an eye for goal from set pieces, having a reputation for being deadly from free kicks and illustrated by his 13 assists last season, he can certainly pick a pass. However, his move may have further implications for Ross Barkley. The Englishman has fallen out of favour at Goodison Park and with the signing of Sigurdsson, the likelihood of the midfielder achieving a first team place this season is very low and will now find himself desperately searching for a way out. The deal also has implications for his former club Swansea City. The club now have the funds to bring in, potentially, 2-3 players and an attacker will be high on the list for Paul Clement.
Having broken their transfer record to bring the Icelandic midfielder in, Koeman and Everton will be hoping he can have an instant impact on the side as the club look to break into the top 6 this season. In what is arguably one of the most competitive season of the Premier League yet, it is players like Sigurdsson that will be the difference between a draw and a win.
