Everton have officially confirmed the €30m signing of Beto from Udinese, who has penned onto a four-year deal with the side.
In an interview with the club’s website, The Portuguese striker, who will wear the number 14 shirt at Goodison Park and has expressed his desire to help Sean Dyche’s side score more goals this season, stating:
“I am looking forward to getting started – today, right now. I know the team needs to score more goals and I will try to help with this. I love to score goals. I know we need this and I am here to help. I will always give my best to score goals.”
This will come as encouraging news for The Toffees, who have been looking to strengthen their attacking options heading into the new campaign, after scoring just 34 League goals last season, the second worst in the division.
This record, which was partly down to Dominik Calvert-Lewin starting just 15 games due to injury, has continued into this season, with Everton having lost each of their three opening Premier League fixtures- failing to score in all of them. Furthermore, Calvert-Lewin has only featured in 38 minutes throughout these games, after being substituted off with an injury to his cheekbone during their 4-0 loss to Aston Villa.
Consequently, Beto, who has been described by Dyche as “a powerful striker who can carry the ball, hold up play, is strong in the air and works hard for the team” will be looking to make a significant contribution to his new side. The 25-year-old comes off the back of two impressive seasons in the Serie A, where he scored a combined 21 goals in 47 appearances for Udinese.
This move marks the fifth new signing at the Merseyside club this summer, with Ashley Young having joined on a free transfer, Leeds United’s Jack Harrison and Villarreal’s Arnaut Danjuma arriving on loan deals, whilst 19-year-old striker Youseff Chermiti has moved from Sporting CP for £15m.
Beto will have the chance to prove himself this Saturday away at Sheffield United- as the Blues look to gain their first win of the new season and begin their work to re-establish themselves as one of the top sides in England once again.
Travis Levison | Get Football
