Nigerian forward Alex Iwobi is leaving Arsenal for Everton after agreeing to a five-year contract worth as much as $40 million.
Iwobi, 23, became Everton’s seventh summer signing following the arrivals of Jonas Lössl, Djibril Sidibe, Andre Gomes, Fabian Delph and Jean-Philippe Gbamin, and Moise Kean.
✅ Creativity
✅ Flair
✅ Youth✍️ Signed, sealed, delivered!
Never in doubt, @alexiwobi! 😅 #EFC
— Everton (@Everton) August 8, 2019
Everton manager Marco Silva said it was important to add an additional quality option for the team’s attacking positions.
“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 skillful 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,” Silva said.
Iwobi is seen as an alternative to Crystal Palace and Ivory Coast winger Wilfried Zaha, whom the Toffees attempted to sign without success in a club-record deal this summer.
He joined Arsenal’s academy in 2004 aged 8 and made his debut for the first team in October 2015 aged 19. He played 149 games for the Gunners scoring 15 goals and contributing 23 assists.
Iwobi, who has 36 international caps for Nigeria, played at the 2019 Total Africa Cup of Nations helping the Super Eagles to finish in third place. His only goal in the competition was the winner in the 3-2 victory against the then defending champions Cameroon in the Round of 16.
