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Everton FC have completed the signing of midfielder Dele Alli from Tottenham Hotspur on a two-and-a-half-year contract until the end of June 2024.
The England international, who played 269 times and scored 67 goals for Spurs after joining in February 2015, is new Everton FC manager Frank Lampard’s first permanent addition – following a loan move for Donny van de Beek from Manchester United on the final day of the January transfer window.
Dele could potentially make his Everton debut in the Premier League fixture at Newcastle United next Tuesday.
The 25-year-old, who is Cup-tied for the weekend meeting with Brentford FC, has 37 England caps and was an instrumental figure in the Three Lions’ run to the 2018 World Cup semifinals.
On joining Everton, Dele said, “I’m delighted to have signed for Everton, a huge club with a great fanbase and history.”
“I’m eager to get started and can’t wait for my first game in an Everton shirt.”
“I’m looking forward to helping the team and the opportunity to work with the new manager Frank Lampard.”
“I’ve had a few good conversations with him [Lampard] already, he’s a player I admired through his whole career watching him. I’m pleased to work with him, it’s very exciting, I’m sure we can do great things together.”
“I just want to be happy playing football. Working with Lampard, and the great players Everton have got, is a great opportunity for me to do that. I’m excited to go there, show the fans what I can do, and help the Club as much as I can.”
Dele reached double figures for goals in his debut Premier League campaign in 2015/16, adding the Young Player of the Year prize to a goal of the season award.
He scored 18 Premier League goals in 35 starts in his second Spurs season and claimed PFA young-player honours for a second straight campaign.
The midfielder, who represented England at the 2016 UEFA European Championship and UEFA Nations League finals in 2019, directly contributed to 20 Premier League goals – scoring nine – in 2017/18.
He was a key performer as Spurs progressed to the 2019 UEFA Champions League final – and has four goals and 10 assists from 26 appearances in Europe’s premier club competition.
Dele made his senior debut for MK Dons – the club he joined as an 11-year-old – aged 16, and scored 16 goals in a League One promotion-winning campaign in his final season in 2014/15.
