EPL News: Everton announce loan signing of Nigerian defender Joseph Yobo to Fenerbahce
The English club Everton has confirmed their agreement with Turkish football club Fenerbache in lending their 29 year old Nigerian centre back Joseph Yobo.
It has been said that for the next season the Nigerian international Yobo will play in Turkey and if results are proven to be good then Fenerbache will consider finalizing a permanent deal for him.
For now what has been confirmed by the officials from Toffees is that a season long deal has been officiated by the Football Association. This announcement comes after the transfer window closed on 31st August but because there are deals confirmed by clubs, therefore they still have to go through the approval process.
Also some clubs have signed players before the deadline and have even conducted their medical examinations but they have failed to organize a press conference or commit to the official signing ceremony for the player. This thus brings delay in the announcement of new signings. Some clubs are suppressing the news intentionally to bring it on as a last minute announcement in attempts to create a surprise advantage.
Officials from both Everton and Fenerbahce have incorrigibly said that Yobo is signed till the end of the 2010-11 season after which Fenerbahce will offer the People’s club the amount of 5 million pounds for a permanent signing.
Goodison Park has seen Yobo for 9 seasons and in that period the former Marseille has performed tirelessly. He had stated that he wanted to gain atleast 250 caps for the Blues before he retires, therefore this deals brings a halt in his dream. Yobo is already considered among notable Everton players and it is predicted that the player might make a comeback to the club after this season.
Yobo came to Marseille from Standard Liege in 2001 while he joined them in 1998. For the Belgian club, Los Rouches; Yobo has compiled 46 appearances and netted goals twice.
In the summers of 2001 Yobo made a transfer from Standard Liege to Marseille and there he stayed till 2002. After spending just a year with the French club he came to Everton. For Marseille, Yobo played in 24 matches and last season the Marseille club finished top in the French League, Ligue 1.
Last season Everton had a pretty good run in the English Premier League but due to small mistakes the club finished 8th in the League, just below their fierce neighboring rivals, Liverpool Football club.
Liverpool has had a troubled season in 2009-10 after having an excellent one in the year before. This has majorly been the result of the financial crisis however their new manger Roy Hodgson has been taking good measure to reintroduce the club to at least the Top 4 level.
Everton too has been facing financial problems since last season and their manager David Moyes has appealed to the club’s chairman Bill Kenwright to spare him some extra funds so that he can sign in some extra players but his wish has not met the desired outcome this summer.
This is why player’s like Yobo make it a big deal if one of the regular’s from the club leaves. Last season Yobo played 23 matches for Toffees and scored 2 goals.
David Moyes realizes his capabilities but he has a strategy in mind that could leave him out this season and therefore it would be in the best interests of the player if he continues his career at another club.
David Moyes has revealed that his numbers 1 choice for the centre back positions are Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin. He also stated that he had a backup plan if the first duo does not work out.
The 47 year old Scottish manager who has been hailed as the possible successor of Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United said that he could use the versatile John Heitinga and Jack Rodwell in the last line of defence. Both players are also capable of playing on the flanks at either side of the field.
Moyes has stated that the deal should conceptualize any moment with the final signing of the papers. The time issue in relation to the closing of the transfer window is not of much concern because in Turkey the deal can be signed late on Wednesday. With the official confirmation coming from Fenerbache some time afterwards.
At the moment Yobo is in a binding deal with Everton, which makes him eligible to play for them till 2014, therefore it can’t be stated that the deal was the end of Yobo’s career with Everton. The player has been performing beautifully so at the end of the year he could still be anybody’s catch.
Yobo also had a superb FIFA 2010 World Cup campaign in South Africa where though Nigeria got out early, they did make an impression on the world and through them, so did Yobo.
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