Free Agent Eto’O Joins Everton

Four-time Caf Player of the Year Samuel Eto’O has signed a two-year deal with Everton on a free transfer.

The 33-year-old Cameroon striker successfully completed a medical at Finch Farm on Tuesday and is in line to make his debut against Chelsea- his latest former side- this Saturday.

Eto’O said: “I am very happy to be here, I am looking forward greatly to putting on the Blue shirt of Everton.

“I have been very impressed by the style of play Everton adopt. I could see straight away that at this club I will have the opportunity to play football. I had the chance to speak with the manager over the last few days and we agreed that this was what we would do.

Samuel Eto'O Reacts After Missing a Goal-Scoring Opportunity in a 2014 World Cup Game Against Mexico.
Samuel Eto’O Reacts After Missing a Goal-Scoring Opportunity in a 2014 World Cup Game Against Mexico.

“I was impressed with his enthusiasm but also by the knowledge of football that Roberto Martinez carries, his vision of football and how he reads football. I still think I can learn a great deal from him here.”

He was released by Chelsea at the end of last season after his one-year contract expired. He scored 12 goals in 35 appearances after joining the Stamford Bridge club from Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala last August.

The four-time Caf Player of the Year recipient won the Uefa Champions League with Barcelona (3) and Inter Milan (1).

He also won the La Liga thrice at the Nou Camp, before he moved to Barcelona in 2009 as part of a deal which saw Zlatan Ibrahimovic move in the opposite direction.

He scored 53 goals in 101 appearances at the San Siro before joining Anzhi in a bumper deal.

Manager Roberto Martinez signed Belgian centre-forward Romelu Lukaku on a permanent deal and Ghanaian winger Christian Atsu on loan, both from Chelsea this summer. Eto’O will render more options in the ‘Toffees’s’ forward line alongside Steven Naismith and Arouna Kone.

Martinez said: “I met him and we had a very good chat about football in general and I was impressed about the hunger he still has.

“For someone who has achieved nearly everything, he still has the desire he had at 15 when he went to Spain and showed what he could do. For many reasons he has got a point to prove. 



“We are very excited and I think Everton is the perfect home for him. The fans will make him ready and feel sharp but we have got to be a bit patient with the fitness levels and make sure he is back to his best.”

Eto has scored a record 56 goals in 118 international caps.