Everton break record for Yakubu
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Article summary
Everton FC have paid a club record €16.6m transfer fee to bring in centre-forward Yakubu Ayegbeni from Premier League rivals Middlesbrough FC.
Article body
'Ambition'
The Nigerian international has moved to Goodison Park after appealing successfully for a work permit, signing a five-year contract. The 24-year-old, who scored 25 goals in 73 league games for Middlesbrough, said: "I have always said that I want to play for a club that plays in Europe and I think Everton have the ambition to move forward."
Yobo connection
Yakubu, part of Middlesbrough's UEFA Cup finalist team of 2005/06, becomes the Merseysiders' fifth summer signing after Phil Jagielka, Steven Pienaar, Leighton Baines and Stefan Wessels. The former Maccabi Haifa FC and Portsmouth FC player links up with international team-mate Joseph Yobo at Everton. His new manager, David Moyes, said: "He has a very good goalscoring record in the Premier League and he also offers strength and power."