Midfielder Davy Klaassen has opened up on his move to Everton.
Everton summer signing Davy Klaassen has told The Telegraph that he decided to join the club after a one-to-one conversation with manager Ronald Koeman.
The Toffees have splashed the cash this summer, bringing in a host of new signings as the likes of Jordan Pickford, Cuco Martina, Michael Keane, Wayne Rooney and Sandro Ramirez have arrived at Goodison Park.
Manager Koeman will now be hoping to launch a push for a top six place, or even a top four place, and new signing Davy Klaassen figures to be a key player for Everton this season.
Klaassen, 24, came up through the ranks with Koeman’s former club Ajax, and starred last season with 35 goals in the last two seasons in all competitions, whilst also skippering the side since Niklas Moisander’s exit in 2015.
The Dutch midfielder attracted interest from a number of clubs entering the summer transfer window, but it was Premier League club Everton who won the race to sign him.
As reported by The Telegaph, Everton spent £24million to sign Klaassen, adding a goalscoring midfielder to Koeman’s ranks amid question marks over Ross Barkley’s future at Goodison Park.
Klaassen has already featured prominently in Europa League and pre-season fixtures this summer, and he will expect to be in the starting line-up for this weekend’s opening game of the Premier League season against Stoke City.
Ahead of that game, Klaassen has spoken to The Telegraph about his move to Merseyside, admitting that manager Koeman played a huge part in his move given that he is a ‘hero’ in their native Netherlands.
Klaassen also admitted that he thought it was ‘big’ when he heard that Koeman wanted to sign him, and after a personal meeting at his house, the midfielder decided to make the move to Goodison Park.
“Ronaldo is a big hero in Holland,” said Klaassen. “I saw him in the stadium a few times when we were playing Europa League. Then I saw a few things in the newspaper where he said I was a good player. I did not want to be thinking about a move until the end of the season. I wanted to concentrate on Ajax’s games and sometimes you read about clubs but I told my agent not to tell me until I ask.”
“Then I had heard the Everton manager wanted to talk to me. When the moment came I thought this is big. After that it happened quick. Ronald lives just ten minutes from my home, so when he went back to Holland in the summer I went to his house in Bussum. The conversation was maybe an hour and he gave me a good feeling. The manager explained his plan and the club’s ambitions and the style of play. He presented a picture and it was good for me. I spoke to a few people, thought about the situation and then in the end I decided yes, I wanted to go to Everton,” he added.
Do you think Klaassen is a good signing for Everton?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
