Everton sign Portuguese striker Beto from Udinese

Premier League basement side Everton have signed Portuguese striker Beto from Serie A team Udinese on a four-year contract, the Premier League club said on Tuesday.

No financial details were released but according to British media reports, the fee for the 25-year-old is 25.8 million pounds ($32.43 million).

Everton are without a point and have failed to score in their opening three Premier League games this season.

Beto made his debut in Portugal's Primeira Liga with Portimonense in August 2019. Having scored 11 goals in 30 league appearances in his second season at the club, he joined Udinese on a season-long loan in 2021.

His first season in Italy saw the striker score another 11 goals in 30 Serie A games, and Udinese signed him on a permanent deal for seven million euros ($7.55 million).

Last season Beto scored 10 league goals in 33 appearances, and Everton had tried to sign the player in January this year.

"When a club like Everton tries to buy you in January and then comes again in summer, you feel like, 'Okay, they want me for real, so that made the decision easy for me as well," Beto said after the transfer was confirmed.

Everton visit fourth-tier Doncaster Rovers in the League Cup second round on Wednesday before travelling to Sheffield United for their next league game on Saturday.

($1 = 0.7955 pounds)

($1 = 0.9275 euros)