Theo Walcott is a Toffee after completing his move from Arsenal to Everton.
The England international fell out of favour with Arsene Wenger this season, dropping down the pecking order at the Emirates behind Alexis Sanchez, Alexandre Lacazette, Olivier Giroud, Alex Iwobi and Danny Welbeck and Everton manager Sam Allardyce took advantage by launching a bid for the 28-year-old.
He travelled to Everton’s Finch Farm on Tuesday to undergo a medical and after finalising personal terms, the three-and-a-half-year deal was completed on Wednesday morning with winger set to stay at Goodison Park until the end of the 2020-21 season.
I’m very ambitious and I’ve come here because I want the Club to push to the next level,” Walcott said.
“And with the players that have come in, I feel like the next level can be reached. “I’m very excited to be starting a new chapter and I felt this was the right place for me to be.
“The manager is very ambitious and I feel like the Club is going in the right direction.
“Everton is a club with a great history. The fans are always passionate, they’re great and I always used to find it very tough playing here.
“The Club has won trophies but I want them to win trophies now. The manager is very hungry and it’s just what I need. I’ve had a couple of chats with him and straightaway I felt that hunger and that desire that he wanted from me. I need that and I wanted that.”
He added: “I want to be part of something which he’s building and, like I said before, it’s a very ambitious club.
“The fact there’s a new stadium going to be developing in the next few years, it’s exciting times for Everton Football Club.
“I’m dead excited and I just want to do what I do best which is playing football and expressing myself because I’m excited again, I really am.
“I do really believe that I’m going to give it my all, which is what I always have done, and this place is going to get even more out of me.
“There’s something about this move which I’ve just felt good about.
“It felt like it was time for me to move on [from Arsenal]. It was sad but it’s exciting at the same time and I want to reignite my career and push Everton to win things as they have done before.
“I want to be part of something and I feel like this place will offer me that.”
The deal sees Walcott become Allardyce’s second signing of the transfer window following the arrival of Turkey striker Cenk Tosun from Besiktas for a reported fee of £27million.
Walcott will not have to wait long before returning to the Emirates Stadium with Everton due to travel to London to face Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday, February 3.
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