Abdoulaye Doucoure says he wants to become "a great player" at Everton and believes the club can now compete with the Premier League's elite.
The 27-year-old joined the Blues for a fee of around £20million in the summer transfer window from Watford, following their relegation to the Championship, and he has opened up about a text he recieved from captain Seamus Coleman after completing the move.
“I was very surprised,” Doucoure told the club's official website.
“It was the first time I have known the captain of a team do that.
“I thought, ‘Wow, this is a great club’.”
The message, which arrived on the midfielder's phone from an unkown number, simply read: “I am very happy you have signed, you are going to help us a lot”.
Meanwhile, despite Watford's poor form Doucoure stood out as a dominant box-to-box midfielder and he has already made a big impression at Goodison Park.
He suffered two serious knee injuries early in his career at Rennes, and after coming through that difficult period he is aiming to rise to the top with the Toffees.
"The first injury felt big for a young player, especially because I was due to sign my contract," Doucoure said.
"But the club trusted me and my recovery was very good. It helped develop my mental strength and signing a contract after that problem was a real boost.
"But the second injury was a big, big blow. The biggest blow of my career. One time is hard, two times is very hard, especially when you are young.
"I had started so well and almost straight away had to stop. I had to be very strong mentally to stay on top.
"My motivation today is to become a great player.
"To play in a top team and to keep helping my family. To be professional and stay in the starting XI every week."
As part of a new-look midfield including Andre Gomes and Allan, Everton have shot up to the top of the Premier League, with four wins, one defeat and a draw against neighbours Liverpool so far.
The addition of James Rodriguez turned heads this summer, and Doucoure says that with adiditions like the Colombian international and Allan, the club are now capable of challenging the top sides in the league.
"Previously, maybe people thought, 'There is a top six, with Everton just behind'," Doucoure added.
"But now Everton is in the top six, it is a top club in the league. It is signing top, top players like James and Allan and they have come here to achieve something.
"Everton are growing up. We have a strong squad with players in great form and we are competing with the biggest teams."
