Everton have clinched the signing of goalkeeper Tim Howard
on a five-year contract from Manchester United for a fee believed
to be in the region of £3m.
Howard joined the Merseysiders on loan from the beginning of the
season, with his long-term future at Old Trafford very much in
doubt. But his form at Goodison Park even prompted United boss Sir
Alex Ferguson to discuss bringing the USA international back to the
club when his loan ended.
However, United have new England international Ben Foster and
Polish youngster Tomasz Kuszczak as back-up to Edwin van der Sar,
and Howard's future at Old Trafford was clearly limited. Howard's
new deal will start from the beginning of next season and run until
2012, with the current loan continuing for the rest of the
campaign.
Manchester United paid £2.3million for the 27-year-old from New
York/New Jersey Metrostars in July 2003, and he played 77 games for
them before moving to Goodison last summer. The permanent arrival
of Howard also suggests that Richard Wright, the current number
two, will be released in the summer. Everton have two
highly-promising youngsters as back-up in Iain Turner and John
Ruddy.
Howard has made 27 appearances for the Toffees, keeping an
impressive 11 clean sheets. Howard told evertonTV: "The club share
my ambition, that is for sure, the manager does and so do the fans.
"I was drawn to the club for a number of reasons and the players in
the dressing room are one of them."
Although the transfer window is currently shut, Premier League
rules permit domestic loan deals to be made permanent outside the
window. By moving now for the goalkeeper, Everton have ensured one
of the Premiership's most consistent performers will remain at
Goodison for the peak years of his career.
Everton boss David Moyes said: "We are delighted to have signed Tim
on a permanent basis. He has come in this season and proved he is a
good keeper and we are pleased to have secured him." Howard has
earned 16 international caps for the USA, with the most recent in
the 2-0 win over Mexico last week.
