Reuniting with Ronald Koeman at Everton excites Morgan Schneiderlin
The 27-year-old heads to Merseyside after failing to lock down a consistent starting spot at Manchester United
Everton have completed the signing of midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin from Manchester United for a fee that could rise to £24 million (HK$226m), the Merseyside club said on Thursday.
The 27-year-old France international was signed from Southampton for £25m in 2015, but became a peripheral figure under United manager Jose Mourinho, making only eight appearances this season.
He said in a club statement that he was relishing the prospect of being reunited with Everton manager Ronald Koeman, with whom he worked for one season at Southampton.
“There is a manager in place here that I know, I know he can get the best out of me, I know his style and how he likes to play football,” Schneiderlin said.
“He was very good with me from the start and I enjoyed playing football under him.
“He was very good for me and, obviously, he was a massive player in his playing days and you can only learn from the best.
“At Southampton he gave me some great advice to keep improving every day and it was a pleasure to work with him.”
Everton said the midfielder had signed a four-and-a-half-year deal for an initial £20m fee, which could rise to £24m.
The move comes days after Koeman urged the Everton board to back him in the transfer market after Saturday’s FA Cup exit at home to Leicester City.
Everton let slip a one-goal lead at Goodison Park with Nigerian striker Ahmed Musa’s second-half double enough to condemn the Merseyside club to a 2-1 third round defeat and the likelihood of another season without silverware.
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“I’m very pleased because I know the player, I know the qualities of the player, I know him as a person and he’s really desperate to come to Everton – and that’s what we need,” Koeman said.
