to an end by telling them he wanted to leave and
became Moyes' first major signing for United right at
the end of the transfer window.
Fellaini has cost £27.5 million -- almost double the
£16 million United valued him at when submitting a
joint, £28 million bid for the midfielder and left-back
Leighton Baines last month.
It was £4 million also more than the £23.5 million
release clause Fellaini had at Goodison Park, which
expired at the end of July and which United had
opted not to activate.
The Belgian forced through the move by submitting a
transfer request at Everton's Finch Farm training
ground on Monday evening.
His arrival follows a summer-long search for a central
midfielder from Moyes, who failed in attempts to
recruit Cesc Fabregas and Thiago Alcantara from
Barcelona and Daniele de Rossi from Roma, and who
suffered disappointment as a move for Athletic
Bilbao's Ander Herrera collapsed.
Everton allowed Fellaini to leave as they brought in
Wigan's James McCarthy, on a £12.5 million deal,
and Manchester City's Gareth Barry, on a season-long
loan, as replacements.
Fellaini remains Everton's club record signing and
cost £15 million when he joined from Standard Liege
in 2008.
He went on to score 33 goals in 177 games for the
Merseysiders and appeared in all four of their fixtures
this season.
He and Baines were praised for their attitude and
performances over recent weeks by new Everton
manager Roberto Martinez before Fellaini said he
wanted to end his time at Everton.
However, Everton succeeded in keeping England
international Baines
at Goodison Park after reportedly rejecting a £15
million bid from United on the final day of the
transfer window.
Moyes' only previous signing for United was
Uruguayan full-back Guillermo Varela. Culled from espnfc.com
No comments:
Post a Comment