Everton sign rising Belgian talent Amadou Onana in €40m agreement

Belgium international midfielder Amadou Onana has joined Everton in a deal worth up to €40m.

Everton beat off competition from West Ham to secure the powerful 20-year-old, who has signed a five-year contract at Goodison Park. The club will pay €36m plus €4m in add-ons to Lille, who signed Onana for almost £6m from Hamburg only a year ago, plus 20% of any future sell-on fee.

Onana is Everton’s fifth summer signing following the arrivals of Conor Coady, Dwight McNeil, Ruben Vinagre and James Tarkowski and represents a coup for manager Frank Lampard and director of football Kevin Thelwell given the interest in the rising talent. The central midfielder has cited the opportunity to work with Lampard as a factor in his decision to move to Merseyside.

“It feels great to join Everton,” said Onana. “I know it’s a big, big club, one of the biggest in England. It’s something I want to be part of for many years. Everyone here showed they really wanted me and they have a plan for me, so I really appreciated the talks I had with the manager and director of football. They told me how they wanted me to play and I enjoyed it. They both have a lot of ambition and that’s the type of guy I am so it matches.

“The manager was one of the big reasons. He played at the highest level, won many things and was a midfielder, too. It means a lot to have interest from him and I think he can teach me many things. The Everton fans are amazing. I saw their support last season and it’s also one of the reasons why I chose Everton. I am looking forward to meeting them at Goodison and, just hearing about the atmosphere, I get goosebumps. Blue is my favourite colour, too!”

Everton have satisfied the Premier League that is working within its profit and