The Toffees finally land Wigan’s Kone.
OFFICIALLY A STRIKER FOR ‘EVERTON’
— ArounaKone (@OfficielArounaK) July 8, 2013
Everton have announced the signing of Wigan Athletic forward Arouna Kone on a three-year deal after keeping tabs on the Ivorian for some time.
Kone will now reunite with new Toffees boss Roberto Martinez having played for the Spaniard during the 2012/13 campaign at the DW Stadium.
The 29-year-old has now been signed by Martinez twice in 12 months and will bolster an Everton attack that consists of Nikica Jelavic, Victor Anichebe and Apostolos Velios.
Both the Merseyside club and Newcastle United met the release clause in the Ivory Coast international’s contract – believed to be around £6m.
However, Kone decided to link-up with his former manager and will return to a Premier League club less than two months after being relegated to the Championship with Wigan.
The striker scored 11 top flight goals during his debut season in England, as well as netting a further two strikes en route to the club’s FA Cup triumph against Manchester City.
Kone has had a varied career in which the forward has played in six different countries, which includes spells at PSV Eindhoven, Hannover 96 and Sevilla.
The Latics signed their hit-man from Levante for £3.3m last summer, but despite an impressive year from the African Wigan were still relegated after the penultimate game of the season.
Now with a talented midfield supporting Kone there is every chance the Ivorian can continue to score plenty of goals in the English top tier.
This new arrival signals Martinez’s first signing since taking the reigns at Goodison Park, although with stars Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines strongly linked with moves away, the 39-year-old is likely to be a little busier throughout the transfer window.
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