Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes has completed the £22 million move to Everton, the Premier League club announced on Tuesday.
Everton have made an official announcement to confirm that they have secured the services of Andre Gomes. The Portuguese international completes a £22 million move from Barcelona, signing a five-year deal with the Premier League club that will run till the summer of 2024.
Andre Gomes joined Barcelona in the aftermath of Portugal’s 2016 UEFA Euro triumph. But, while he arrived at Camp Nou on a high, the move soon turned into a nightmare as he struggled to make his mark in the Blaugrana’s first-team setup.
?? | He’s back for more… pic.twitter.com/vHMGPwq98k
— Everton (@Everton) June 25, 2019
As a result, he started just 39 games across the two full seasons he spent at Barcelona, never quite managing to become a regular. With his position at the club being uncertain, there were murmurings of a permanent move last summer before he completed a deadline day season-long loan move to Everton.
The start to life as an Everton player was hardly ideal for the Barcelona loanee, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury till October. But, once he made his debut for the Premier League club, he never looked back, playing every single game when fit and available, and for good reason.
The 25-year-old struck up a strong understanding with Idrissa Gueye in the middle of the park, with the duo forging a formidable partnership that provided a stable base for Everton over the course of the campaign. And, after such a strong season, it was understandable that the Toffees were keen on signing him permanently.
His exploits though, had given way to widespread speculation surrounding his future, with several Premier League clubs being linked with him. But, Everton remained in the lead to secure his services, with reports last week suggesting they were set to sign him in a £22 million deal.
That has indeed turned out to be the case, with Gomes officially joining the Merseyside club from Barcelona. The deal also including add-ons in addition to the base fee of £22 million, as per the official announcement by Barcelona. The Portuguese international, meanwhile, expressed his delight at joining Everton on a permanent basis.
“I know the club made a massive effort to sign me and I’m very happy and thankful to them. I said during the year that I felt part of a family and that is the most important thing to me. Last year was a really good experience for me.”
“I just wanted to feel part of something special and I found it here. It was good for me in that moment and right now, after signing for Everton, it’s even better. I think the ambition here is not only for me, I think it’s for all the players, the fans and the Club. We are all excited for that.:
At 25, Gomes should ideally have his best years ahead of him, which only bodes well for Everton, if he can continue the upward trajectory he projected this past season. But, only time will tell if the £22 million bears fruit or not.
