Everton sign Abdoulaye Doucoure in £21m transfer and reveal shirt number

Doucoure is Everton’s third signing in four days

Abdoulaye Doucoure has signed a three-year contract (Everton FC)

Everton have completed the transfer of midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure for around £21m from Watford in the latest sign of the club’s intent to kick on this season. The 27-year-old French midfielder has signed a three-year contract and joins James Rodriguez and Allan as Everton’s third new recruit in four days.

"I have been waiting a long time to come here and now it has happened so I am very happy," said Doucoure, who will wear No16. "I had some interest from other clubs but from the beginning when Everton showed an interest in me I told my agent to focus on Everton. It was the only club I wanted to join.

"Everton has a big history in English football and it is a good club for me to have a step up in my career. I am very happy now to be an Everton player and very excited for the future." 

Carlo Ancelotti preferred a 4-4-2 formation last season but now has an embarrassment of riches in midfield, and there will be a battle for game time among the new signings and existing players like Gylfi Sigurdsson, Andre Gomes, Tom Davies, Theo Walcott, Alex Iwobi, Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Fabian Delph and Bernard.