Rangers newco: Steven Naismith completes transfer to Everton

Published on 04/07/2012 10:17

STEVEN Naismith will be paraded as an Everton player tomorrow after David Moyes snapped up the former Rangers striker on a free transfer after the Scotland international walked away from Charles Green’s newco.

Naismith has signed a four-year deal with Everton after he terminated his contract with the soon-to-be-liquidated Ibrox side, having rejected the chance to move over to the newco club. Naismith, 25, will now join up with his new team-mates for the start of pre-season training this week, and will talk about his move alongside Moyes at a press conference tomorrow.

“It is a great honour to be joining a club of Everton’s wonderful history and to have the chance to play with such a talented group of players in the world’s best league in front of such a passionate group of fans,” Naismith told evertonfc.com. “I look forward to working with the manager David Moyes and all the staff at Everton and working hard to deliver on the pitch to repay their, and the chairman Mr [Bill] Kenwright’s faith in me.”

Moyes was keen to add greater strength to the forward line and believes Naismith will fit in well at Goodison Park. “We are delighted that Steven has agreed to join us,” said the Scot. “He will be an excellent addition to the players we already have and we look forward to him being fit and ready to play at the start of the season.

“He is an established international who can play in a number of positions. He has a flexibility we always like in our players and which will hopefully prove to be very useful for us.”

The exodus of players from the newco Rangers continued with highly-rated youngster John Fleck also signing for Coventry although, unlike previous departures, the two sides agreed a financial deal for the transfer.

PFA Scotland believe the wantaway players are free agents and have asked the football authorities to release their registration from Rangers. Green has vowed to seek compensation from the likes of Everton, Norwich and Stoke, who signed Naismith, Steven Whittaker and Jamie Ness, respectively. But the newco chief executive revealed npower Championship side Coventry had agreed a deal for Fleck and was happy with the outcome.

He said: “Coventry City have acted in exactly the right way in the transfer of John Fleck to ensure that all three parties – both clubs and the player – are satisfied with the deal.”

Earlier, Green reacted to media suggestions he would take legal action against Coventry and Fleck. His statement read: “An inaccurate media report suggests the club is taking legal action against John Fleck over his move to Coventry City. Both clubs have reached agreement for the transfer of the player and Coventry have recognised Rangers’ rights as part of the process.”

Sky Blues manager Andy Thorn is happy to have the former Blackpool loanee on board on a three-year deal. He said: “I am really pleased to get John on board because he is someone I have liked for a while now.”

The 20-year-old started his career with Rangers and made his debut at the age of 15.