Everton complete permanent signing of new exciting attacker on multi-year contract
Everton have completed the signing of former Arsenal attacker Omari Benjamin, the club has now confirmed.
The club announced via their official website on 2 July that the 18-year-old, who classified himself as an “exciting attacker” has joined on a three-year deal.
Benjamin joins the Toffees under-21s after a successful trial with the club late last term following his departure from the Gunners.
Benjamin said: “This is a really exciting opportunity for me. I’m keen to show what I can do on the pitch and excited at what is to come at Everton.
“When I came here on trial, the boys and staff were really nice, there was a good feel to the Club and everyone was really welcoming so it made to easy to sign here.”
Omari Benjamin joins Everton after exit from Arsenal
Sean Dyche may have 21-year-old Jarrad Branthwaite as a first-team regular and arguably the best player in his squad, but last season admitted the academy wasn’t producing enough talents for the senior side [Liverpool Echo, 9 March].
The sale of Lewis Dobbin to Aston Villa last month, with Tim Ireogbunam coming the other way on a separate permanent deal, may have helped ease the profit and sustainability concerns.
But it meant yet another homegrown youngster departing Goodison Park, following the likes of Ellis Simms, Ishe Samuels-Smith, and Anthony Gordon to the exit in recent windows after varying impacts on the first-team.
Benjamin might not be in line to break through yet but the club clearly believe there is something there to have decided to give him a three-year deal after his trial.
How much of a crowded field he will need to force his way through to make it into the senior set up is still up in the air this summer, with both senior strikers linked with moves away as Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been offered up for a transfer with only a year left on his contract [The Times, 24 June] and Beto attracting interest from Jose Mourinho in Turkey [Sabah, 17 June].
The Toffees are also on the brink of completing the permanent signing of Iliman Ndiaye from Marseille and still haven’t seen much from youngster Youssef Chermiti after his arrival a year ago.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are now fighting to add another permanent transfer with a bid already made.
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