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Bolasie: This team belongs in the top six

Yannick Bolaise has spoken of his excitement to get going for Everton now that his £22.5m move from Crystal Palace is done and dusted.

The 27-year-old became Ronald Koeman's fourth signing when he put pen to paper on a five-year contract today, a week after the two clubs settled on a price that could eventually come close to matching the Blues' record fee for an incoming player.

Bolasie completed a medical yesterday and wrapped up the formalities of his transfer from the Capital before sitting down in front of the cameras for his first interview as an Everton player.

The French-born winger, who will wear the number 14 jersey, seems to be genuinely excited about having joined the Blues and the prospect of playing in front of supporters who made a clear impression on him on previous visits playing for Palace.

He scored his first Premier League goal at Goodison Park but it's the impression he got from the Evertonian faithful when a goal went into the other end that also appears to have stayed with him.

“I'm looking forward to putting on this Everton shirt,” Bolasie told evertontv. “It's a very big club and I know about [it] from playing here over the years. I know what the supporters are like and what the atmosphere is like in the ground.

“I was just happy [to score] but I remember when we conceded a goal and Everton scored, the way the crowd changed is the kind of support I dream of.”

“I've joined a club with quality players that has also produced a lot of quality [like] Wayne Rooney and Ross (Barkley), and not forgetting, Romelu (Lukaku) is still here so I'm looking forward to playing with these quality players.

“For me, it was a no-brainer to come here," he said in the Liverpool Echo. But now that I've come to Everton, the job is not done. I've got to work hard and feel my way in. I'm ready and up for the challenge.

“It's not about the money for me. It's about looking at the ambition of the Club and where they are trying to get to. I just like to play football."

For Koeman, landing Bolasie meets a goal he has had since his days as Southampton manager, while Everton's new Director of Football Steve Walsh is also believed to be an admirer of a player who will add pace, power and plenty of unpredictability to the team's attack.

Capable of playing on either flank or in an advanced central role if required, the DR Congo international will increase Koeman's options, particularly if Gerard Deulofeu is to continue operating more centrally.

“I think there was a little bit of interest [in me from the manager] when he was at Southampton,” Bolasie explained, “and reading some of the comments about my game… obviously he was a top centre back when he was playing at Barcelona so it's going to be interesting learning off him because he would have played against some of the elite players in the world.

“So it's going to be good getting some tips off him.

“As a personal target, I just want to get better and I feel I've done that since I've been in the Premier League. I'm looking forward to it — this team belongs in the top six, that's for sure and I'll be trying to help the team get up there for sure.”

 

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