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Distin deal done and dusted for Everton

Everton FC manager David Moyes has moved swiftly to compensate for the loss of Joleon Lescott to Manchester City FC by signing Sylvain Distin, 31, from Portsmouth FC for an undisclosed fee.

Sylvain Distin arrives at Everton in the wake of Joleon Lescott's departure
Sylvain Distin arrives at Everton in the wake of Joleon Lescott's departure ©Getty Images

Everton FC manager David Moyes has moved swiftly to compensate for the loss of Joleon Lescott to Manchester City FC by signing Sylvain Distin from Portsmouth FC for an undisclosed fee.

Perfect fit
Distin, 31, came through a medical at Everton on Friday morning and penned a three-year contract to become Moyes' third acquisition of the summer. "He'll give me a centre-half," said Moyes. "I needed one before Joleon [Lescott] left and he'll give me a direct replacement for him. He's a left-footed centre-back, which I wanted. He's a bit older but more experienced and I look back at how well David Weir and Alan Stubbs did for us in their 30s – I hope Sylvain can do the same. We need someone to come in and keep us steady because we want to be competing at the top end of the Premier League."

Welcome cover
Distin has played for both Manchester City and Newcastle United FC since arriving in England in 2001 from Paris Saint-Germain FC in his native France, and will be available for both Everton's domestic and European campaigns. On Friday Everton were drawn in Group I of the inaugural UEFA Europa League alongside SL Benfica, AEK Athens FC and FC BATE Borisov.

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