Theo Walcott insists he has joined Everton to win silverware and reignite his career after completing his £20million move from Arsenal.
The England international underwent a medical on Tuesday and put pen-to-paper on a deal that will keep him at Goodison Park until June 2021 and the 28-year-old believes the opportunity to move north has come at the perfect time.
He has hardly featured in the Premier League this season but new manager Sam Allardyce is determined to make him a focal point of Everton’s attack and Walcott, who was also the subject of interest from Southampton, has explained the role he played in making the switch happen.
‘I’m very ambitious and I’ve come here because I want the club to push to the next level,’ Walcott said.
‘With the players that have come in, I feel like the next level can be reached. I’m very excited to be starting a new chapter and I felt this was the right place for me to be.
‘The manager is very ambitious and I feel like the club is going in the right direction. Everton is a club with a great history. The fans are always passionate, they’re great and I always used to find it very tough playing here. The club has won trophies but I want them to win trophies now.
‘The manager is very hungry and it’s just what I need. I’ve had a couple of chats with him and straightaway I felt that hunger and that desire that he wanted from me. I need that and I wanted that. I want to be part of something.’
Walcott spent 12 years at Arsenal, and posted a montage of images from his days playing for the Gunners on Twitter, before later recording a video message for Instagram in which he thanked fans for their support.
Allardyce has spent more than £45million already in the window and will now look to bring in a left-back. Manchester United’s Luke Shaw and Aaron Cresswell of West Ham are his preferred option but neither will be easily obtained.
Improving Everton’s goals return is a priority, though, and Cenk Tosun – who was Everton’s first signing of the window from Besiktas – feels he and Walcott can form a partnership.
‘He will bring a lot to the team,’ said Tosun. ‘We need that kind of input upfront and I hope he will give that to us. Theo is a great player, proven in the Premier League – he has done well at Arsenal for many years. I would say that he will be a massive signing for us. I think I will link up well with him.’
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