Everton Football Club has officially announced the signing of fullback Ashley Young, marking their first acquisition in the summer transfer window.
Young’s previous contract with Aston Villa had reached its conclusion, making him available for a move to the Toffees.
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The 38-year-old player began his professional career at Watford in 2003, where he coincidentally shared the squad with Everton’s current manager, Sean Dyche.
At the time, the latter was nearing the end of his own playing days.
Young went on to represent Aston Villa, Manchester United, and Inter Milan before returning to Villa Park for the last couple of seasons.
Young’s arrival at Everton brings a wealth of experience and versatility to the team.
Throughout his career, he has amassed considerable playing time in various positions across the field, particularly excelling on both flanks and in midfield.
Securing Young as a free agent allows Everton to allocate their funds more efficiently, as they can avoid spending on transfer fees.
Additionally, the departures of several high-profile players from the previous season have likely reduced the club’s bloated wage bill.
Although Everton is not expected to be overly active in the summer transfer market, their focus lies in bolstering their attacking options.
The team struggled in front of goal, particularly due to the inconsistent fitness of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
As part of the Everton squad, Young will don the number 18 shirt.
He has previously worn number 18 at Aston Villa, number 15 at Inter, number 18 at Manchester United, number 7 during his first spell at Villa, and number 15 at Watford.
The number 18 shirt holds a rich and storied history at Everton. Prior to Young, it was worn by Niels Nkounkou and Asmir Begovic.
Notable past wearers during the Premier League era include Morgan Schneiderlin, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Gareth Barry, Phil Neville, Wayne Rooney, and Paul Gascoigne.
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With the addition of Ashley Young, Everton hopes to benefit from his vast experience, flexibility, and tactical acumen.
As the Toffees embark on the upcoming season, fans eagerly anticipate the positive impact Young can bring to the team’s performance on the field.
