Alex Iwobi: Everton sign Arsenal forward in five-year deal worth up to £34m

Last updated on 8 August 2019.From the section Everton573

Everton have signed forward Alex Iwobi from Arsenal on a five-year deal for a fee that could rise to £34m.

Iwobi came through the ranks at the Gunners, scoring 15 goals in 149 games.

The Nigeria forward is Marco Silva's seventh summer signing.

"Alex was one of our main targets for this window and I believe he is a fantastic signing. He is a direct and skilful winger and attacking midfielder who always works very hard," the Everton manager said.

"He is still young but already with a lot of top-level experience - 100 Premier League matches, more in Europe and many international games.

"Alex fits exactly the profile of player I want. He is hungry to join Everton and take the next step in his career, to help us compete with the strongest teams in the league and reach his potential at our club."

Iwobi - whose arrival was announced more than four hours after the window closed - joins fellow new recruits goalkeeper Jonas Lossl, defender Djibril Sidibe, midfielders Andre Gomes, Fabian Delph and Jean-Philippe Gbamin, and striker Moise Kean.

Everton had an initial bid of £30m turned down but their improved offer - an initial £28m, rising to £34m with potential add-ons - was accepted.

Iwobi featured regularly last season under manager Unai Emery, appearing in all but three Premier League games, and he scored in the Europa League final defeat by Chelsea in what was his last appearance for the club.

There was increased competition for Iwobi's position at Arsenal following the arrival of Nicolas Pepe from Lille for a club record £72m.

Iwobi now begins a new chapter of his career at Everton, as the Toffees target an improvement on last season's eighth-place finish.

In an attempt to do that, Silva has reshaped his squad over the summer with seven arrivals and nine permanent departures.

Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page

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573 comments

Comment posted by LeotheWhiteLion, at 17:16 8 Aug 2019
Quality player on the ball but sadly lacking all the end product. Hope he does well at Everton but Arsenal have done mad good business to get £40m for him.
Comment posted by invincible 49, at 17:20 8 Aug 2019
To be fair I’m disappointed to see him go. He’s only just turned 23 and has a lot of potential.

I’m sure he will develop quickly at Everton, hopefully getting more game time than he did with us. If he can improve his finishing he will be a quality player.

Good luck Alex, all the best.
Comment posted by U17652877, at 17:18 8 Aug 2019
Have Everton struck oil ?
Comment posted by McWibble, at 17:15 8 Aug 2019
£40m did Iwobi? That's pure madness.
Comment posted by jackie, at 18:15 8 Aug 2019
Please someone tell Everton that Mustafi and Elneny are available for 120 million
Comment posted by Clique41, at 17:15 8 Aug 2019
People can be mad at the fee, but he's a good player and still quite young so a lot of growth due! Given all the prices around, I don't think this is very unreasonable. Good to see Arsenal getting higher fees for their players now.
Comment posted by oli, at 17:24 8 Aug 2019
Arsenal have done well this transfer season, but this is their best bit of business by far. 40 mil for Iwobi is crazy
Comment posted by Dr_John - not a Doctor of medicine, at 17:35 8 Aug 2019
Assuming that the fee includes various add-ons, then this could be a good signing for Everton.

He has become a bit of a scapegoat for some of the entitled glory hunters at Arsenal, but he can play, and I think there is a lot more to come from him.

As an Arsenal fan, I think it is 50-50 whether we will come to regret selling him.

Seems a decent guy, I hope it works out for him
Comment posted by Pete_B, at 22:10 8 Aug 2019
Harsh comments from most people here. Iwobi is a decent player who gave us good service at Arsenal. Never gave less than 100% for us, lacking sharpness in front of goal which would make him top quality. I think Emery probably would’ve liked to keep him, but we need to balance the books. Somehow I think zaha would’ve been a headache for Everton unlike iwobi. Anyway I for one wish him all the best.
Comment posted by paul hirst, at 17:41 8 Aug 2019
Seems strange with Everton splashing the cash,and their illustrious neighbours deciding their happy with their lot. Iwobis approach play is fine, but he's not clinical enough at moment when in on goal. 40 million seems far too steep a fee, but maybe Silva can get the best out of him. Let's face it even Lukaku looked far more threatening at Goodison park than he ever did at Old Trafford.
Comment posted by Deano, at 19:20 8 Aug 2019
As an arsenal fan I'm not too bothered about him leaving I know hes still young but has he done enough since breaking through, for me no. Not enough goals or assists but I genuinely wish him well for his time at Everton hopefully will become a better player for it, never caused any problems just played when asked and sat on the bench when asked, farewell Alex
Comment posted by Baron von Gammon, at 17:16 8 Aug 2019
Lol £40m!?!?!

Bite yer bleedin' 'and off.
Comment posted by TheMightyMilko, at 22:25 8 Aug 2019
Iwobi gave 200% every second on the pitch for us. So direct, full of tricks, tracked back. And tho his end product wasn't always perfect... it was improving every game.
Fully believe that at Everton, with their style and more responsibility, he will become a better and more influential player for them than he ever could for us. The fans will love his attitude..
All the best to him and Everton.
Comment posted by Mike maguire, at 19:01 8 Aug 2019
As a liverpool fan I don't see a problem with Everton spending a bit of money to try and compete, unfortunately it's the way football is at the moment. So they may have paid over the odds for iwobi, it's not the fans money so why should they care as long as he improves their team
Comment posted by christyjeb, at 20:39 8 Aug 2019
Good luck Iwobi. He will miss his friends at Arsenal. Arsenal fans should give him sime respect plz. We signed some players but lets wait and see what they can do before slaggin off the players who served and entertained. Jeez. It wont be that long you will start with the new ones.
Comment posted by Gebby , at 17:59 8 Aug 2019
Arsenal just said Mustafi available to for 75m, Everton said don’t be stupid .... Arsenal said well you started it ! 😂😂
Comment posted by gooner7, at 18:57 8 Aug 2019
Good luck iwobi. Might not be the most talented but always put in a shift and gave 100% unlike some.
Comment posted by Darkskies, at 22:15 8 Aug 2019
Obviously, quite a few non-Everton/Arsenal trolls here tonight suggesting the price is too high, others are worth more, not a good player etc. What they need to remember is that there have been quite a few good players in past Everton squads, Lukaku for example, that when sold to another team did not perform well.

Every team has a style of play and will suit some players more than others.
Comment posted by Swine Flu, at 17:27 8 Aug 2019
It’s the right move for him.

He looked good at times for Arsenal last season (purely on the basis that he was the only player in the team who could dribble).
Comment posted by Y0U, at 17:19 8 Aug 2019
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA CHUMPS. Arsenal laughing to the bank.