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Everton Football Club has completed the signing of Cameroon international and three times Champions League winner Samuel Eto’o.
The experienced striker has put pen to paper on a two-year deal at Goodison Park following last season’s spell at Chelsea.
With 118 caps and a record 56 goals for Cameroon, Eto’o has been prolific throughout his professional career which has included trophy-laden spells at Barcelona and Inter Milan.
Having started out at Real Madrid, he has also featured for Mallorca, Anzhi Makhachkala before his introduction to the Premier League last summer.
At the Camp Nou, he hit over 100 league goals across five glorious campaigns. A league title in his debut season was followed by the La Liga top scorer award in 2005/06 and his first Champions League medal.
In his last season at Barcelona, Eto’o weighed in with 36 goals including vital strikes in the Champions League final and title run-in as the Catalans completed a historic treble.
Eto’o with the Everton shirt
He joined Inter Milan in the summer of 2009 and became the first player to win consecutive European continental trebles.
With four league titles, seven domestic cups, a FIFA Club World Cup medal and three Champions League wins to his name, Eto’o will now provide an extra forward option for Roberto Martinez at home and in Europa League action – adding to Club-record signing Romelu Lukaku, Steven Naismith and Arouna Kone.
Speaking to evertontv, a delighted Martinez said: “I met him and we had a very good chat about football in general and I was impressed about the hunger he still has.
“For someone who has achieved nearly everything, he still has the desire he had at 15 when he went to Spain and showed what he could do. For many reasons he has got a point to prove. ??
“We are very excited and I think Everton is the perfect home for him. The fans will make him ready and feel sharp but we have got to be a bit patient with the fitness levels and make sure he is back to his best.”
Crowned African Player of the Year a record four times, Eto’o successfully completed a medical at Finch Farm on Tuesday and is in line to make his debut against his latest former side this Saturday.
Eto’o pens his Everton deal, watched by Club Secretary David Harrison
The 33-year old forward said: “I am very happy to be here, I am looking forward greatly to putting on the Blue shirt of Everton.
“I have been very impressed by the style of play Everton adopt. I could see straight away that at this club I will have the opportunity to play football. I had the chance to speak with the manager over the last few days and we agreed that this was what we would do.
“I was impressed with his enthusiasm but also by the knowledge of football that Roberto Martinez carries, his vision of football and how he reads football. I still think I can learn a great deal from him here.”
Everton chairman Bill Kenwright added: “Roberto and Samuel seemed a perfect fit when they met – add Everton and Evertonians to that equation and I’m pretty sure Samuel will soon realise he’s got the perfect club and perfect team-mates to really enjoy his second Premier League adventure.
“Throughout all of the negotiations, both Samuel and his representatives conducted themselves in an exemplary way and left Roberto and myself in no doubt that Everton was the only Club he wanted to play for.”
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