Alex Iwobi signs for Everton on transfer deadline day

Nigerian midfielder, Alex Iwobi has joined Everton from Arsenal on a five-year contract.

The deal was announced late on deadline day, four hours after the window shut at 5pm, with the transfer fee potentially reaching £40million.

Iwobi joined Arsenal’s academy when he was nine and broke into the first team under Arsene Wenger in 2015. He signed a new long term contract last summer, but both player and club felt it best to part company this summer.

The 23-year-old made 35 Premier League appearances last season, but faced the difficult task of cementing a spot in Unai Emery’s first-team this season due to the arrivals of Dani Ceballos from Real Madrid and Nicolas Pepe from Lille.

✅ | Another target captured!

The boss has his say on summer signing #7️⃣! #EFC pic.twitter.com/f8IKdwRGSD

— Everton (@Everton) August 8, 2019

Arsenal had initially rejected a £30m approach from Everton, but accepted an improved offer for the Nigeria international, with the Toffees turning their attention to Iwobi after missing out on Wilfried Zaha

Everton manager Marco Silva said:

Alex was one of our main targets for this window and I believe he is a fantastic signing for Everton. He is a direct and skilful winger and attacking midfielder who always works very hard for his team.

He is still young but already with a lot of top-level experience - 100 Premier League matches, more in Europe and many international games.

It was important for me to have one more quality option for our attacking positions to add to what we have with Richarlison, Bernard and Theo Walcott.

Alex fits exactly the profile of player I want in my model. He is hungry to join Everton and take the next step in his career, to help us compete with the strongest teams in the league and reach his potential at our club.

Arsenal thanked Iwobi for his services.

Everyone at Arsenal thanks Alex for his contribution and wish him all the best, the statement reads.

1⃣4⃣9⃣ games
2⃣3⃣ assists
1⃣5⃣ goals

...and 1⃣ #NaijaBoy 🇳🇬

We've seen you go from boy to man, and @alexiwobi, it's been a pleasure 🤝 pic.twitter.com/I08BslEUQM

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 8, 2019

Iwobi came through the ranks at Arsenal and enjoyed four seasons in North London, playing 149 games and scoring 19 goals.