The Dutch goalkeeper spent last season on loan to Southampton but is now an Everton player.
Maarten Stekelenburg has outlined the difference between Everton and Southampton in an interview with this week’s Sunday People (page 53).
Goalkeeper Stekelenburg became Ronald Koeman’s first Goodison Park signing in July, having worked with his fellow Dutchman previously at both Ajax and Southampton.
Koeman’s decision to defect from St. Mary’s was met with raised eyebrows in some quarters, with many deeming it to be a sideways step having led the Saints to a club-record sixth in the Premier League last term.
But, Stekelenburg, who also played for AS Roma, has explained in two short sentences why he does not believe that to be the case.
“With Southampton, it was a bonus that we achieved European football,” he told the Sunday People. “With Everton, we are expected to.”
It has been a case of so far, so good for Koeman and Stekelenburg on Merseyside, with Everton fifth in the standings – a whole five places above the Saints.
And the latter has eased Toffees’ fans pre-season concerns that another goalkeeper should have been sought, having kept two clean sheets and conceded just five goals so far.
England international Fraser Forster remains Southampton’s first choice between the sticks, having deposed Stekelenburg upon his return from injury midway through last season.
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