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Toffees Confirm Baines Signing

Tue 07 Aug, 11:09 PM


Leighton Baines believes that joining Everton will take his career on to a higher level.

The 22-year-old left-back completed his £5million move from Barclays Premier League rivals Wigan and has already set his sights on playing consistently in Europe.

And the England Under-21 defender believes that performing well for a top-six side would improve his chances of becoming a full international.

Baines will not make his debut against his former club on Saturday at Goodison Park because of a hamstring injury.

But the Kirkby-born Everton fan cannot wait to get his new career up and running, particularly in the UEFA Cup.

Baines told evertonTV: "Europe is always something you are looking for as a player, and something I am happy about because you need that European experience to help you progress onto the next level.

"Everton had a good season last time out, the lads did really well so hopefully we can build on that, get into Europe again and have a decent European campaign."

Baines is Everton's third summer signing and he has been impressed with the quality of boss David Moyes' previous captures.

He said: "There has not always been a lot of (transfer) activity over the years but when they get someone in they are always top quality, like Andy Johnson and Mikel Arteta."

Baines already has a good friend in the Everton dressing room - striker James Vaughan, currently out until November with a dislocated shoulder.

The pair became pals during the summer when they were both in the England Under-21 squad, and Baines explained: "I watched Everton's recently friendly with Werder Bremen with him - hopefully there will be a lot more European games like that this season.

"I got to know 'Vaughany' well over the summer, we spent a lot of time together.

"There seems to be a good mix here. There are some experienced lads and quite a few good young lads as well - victor Anichebe as well being one of them.

"He and 'Vaughany' were a real handful up front last season and playing against them wasn't easy."

Baines has now returned to a club who rejected him when he was just 12.

Ironically it is the second player Everton have signed this summer who was shown the door as a youngster, Phil Jagielka having been signed from Sheffield United for £4million.

Both players were discarded as youngsters by Everton in the same week 10 years ago.

Baines agreed personal terms at the weekend and his arrival was confirmed today after it was confirmed that he had passed a medical.

Moyes said: "We are pleased to have him. It is a signing for now and it is also a signing for the future.

"Leighton is someone we have been after for a long time and he is someone who will give good competition to our squad.

"We see him as a left-back. We already have Nuno Valente to play there and Joleon Lescott can cover in that position, but we really want him (Lescott) to be a central defender.

"We needed to add to our squad after we sold Gary Naysmith to Sheffield United. Leighton is a young player and he fits in with our policy of trying to buy good British players if we can.

"And he is a big Evertonian. We have been impressed by him and the reports that we have had about him over the past 12 months have been good.

"He really came to prominence last season and has done well in the Premier League and at the European Under-21 Championships, so that was a big factor."

Baines has signed a five-year contract after turning down a move to Sunderland, and opting for Everton ahead of Newcastle - who are believed to have offered him higher wages.

He added: "I am very happy now it is all done and I am looking forward to getting on with it all here.

"People knew this was the place I wanted to come and I am glad now that it is all done.

"I am a local lad and all my family support Everton so it's good to be here at last."

The Goodison side will now step up their pursuit of Porto's captain Luis Gonzalez, a 26-year-old Argentina international, for whom they have made a reported £10million bid. Valencia, Juventus and Lyon are also interested.

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