Good evening, Everton fans. Here are your evening headlines for Tuesday, September 8.
Doucoure: I did everything in my power to come here
Everton have confirmed another senior signing with Abdoulaye Doucoure joining from Watford for an undisclosed fee.
The French midfielder has signed a three-year deal, with an option of a fourth season, and has taken the number 16 shirt most recently worn by James McCarthy.
Everton announced the move on social media with the hashtag #BienvenueDoucoure, and the former France Under-21 international follows Allan and James Rodriguez in moving to Goodison Park for a substantial fee, reportedly in the region of £20m.
“I feel at the top of my career at the moment. Mentally, physically, I feel at my best,” Doucoure told evertonfc.com .
“Everton has a big history in English football,” added the midfielder, who spoke highly of manager Carlo Ancelotti and the club’s other new signings.
“When I heard the names of Allan and James joining Everton it was even more exciting to come.
“I did everything in my power to come here as soon as possible.”
Doucoure played more than 100 Premier League games for Watford, scoring 17 goals, and featured in both of the Hornets’ league games against Everton last term.
James’ Everton squad number explained
The arrival of James Rodriguez from Real Madrid was confirmed yesterday and the Colombian has chosen his Everton squad number for the forthcoming campaign.
James will wear the number 19 for the Toffees, who he started training with today at Finch Farm.
The former Monaco star took the number 10 shirt when he moved to the Bernabeu in 2014, but he gave up that shirt to Luka Modric before leaving the Spanish capital.
James has also worn 10 for Colombia and 11 for Bayern Munich, but we now have an explanation for his new choice of 19 at Goodison Park.
Everton shared a photo of their new signing along with one of a young Rodriguez at his boyhood club Envigado in Colombia, where he wore the same number.
They paired the side-by-side with the caption: "Every number has its history."
Djibril Sidibe wore the number 19 shirt for Everton last season during his loan spell, but the number has become available following the Frenchman’s return to parent club Monaco.
Mina sends heartfelt message to James
James' move to Everton has seen him reunited with international team-mate Yerry Mina, and the Colombian defender was one of many to send welcome a message to the former Real Madrid man.
The centre-back shared a photo of the pair on international duty with the caption: “From Colombia to England”.
“Big things are coming by your side, brother,” he continued. “Thank God for crossing our paths.
"It will be a pleasure to enjoy with you in this great club.”
Rodriguez responded with a simple “vamos hermano,” translated as “let’s go, brother”.
Mina, who joined Everton from Barcelona in 2018, played alongside Rodriguez at the 2018 World Cup, with the pair together in the starting line-up for two group games.
The centre-back finished that tournament as his country’s top scorer, with one of his goals - in a 3-0 win against Poland - coming from a Rodriguez cross.
