Everton snapped up Fabian Delph on Monday, 10 years after the original interest.
They say that good things come to those who wait – and Everton fans will be desperately hoping that same adage rings true for them.
On Monday, the Toffees announced the capture of Fabian Delph in an £8.5 million deal.
The 29-year-old midfielder, who joined Everton from Manchester City, is a brilliant addition, especially for that price, and fans of the Goodison Park club will finally see what some have waited 10 years for.
This wasn’t the first time that the Merseysiders have been linked with Delph. In fact, Everton, then under David Moyes, were the ones challenging Aston Villa to sign the Leeds United gem back in 2009, according to The Echo.
The England international ultimately signed for Villa and it can’t be considered a poor move, by virtue of the fact that it led him to the Sky Blues and allowed him to win two Premier League titles at Eastlands.
But have Everton got him too late? Is he over the hill? In a word, no.
Delph, who turns 30 in November, is a James Milner type of player and can play well into his 30s. Even if it isn’t central midfield, he is versatile and professional enough to do a job in other roles – like, say, left-back, which Pep Guardiola once praised him for last season.
The Toffees aren’t getting a young and up-and-coming Delph like Villa, but they are getting a seasoned, mature Delph, and this version can still give the Blues many-a-good year.
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