Boris Mathis 60

News that the striker was to sign for the Blues was leaked on Twitter with the club later announcing his capture after he put pen to paper on a two-year deal. He came through Lyon's youth academy before joining Metz and he made his Ligue 1 debut while at the club.

"I am very happy and honoured to sign for Everton,” he told evertonfc.com after the formalities of his move were completed. "It is a great club and I have always liked English football and the Premier League."

"I have followed Everton from France. The Club has some great players and I'm very excited to become part of it.

"My dream is to play for the first team here," he added. "Ronald Koeman is a huge figure, not only as a coach now but his reputation as a player speaks for itself as well. I want to play in the Premier League for Everton."

But his progression has been one struggle after another since the bullish attacker arrived at Everton.  Ominously he was not picked for a single Under-23 Premier League 2 game by David Unsworth in his first half-season, with competition in the attacking areas fierce among the Everton youngsters.

After making his debut and scoring a consolation goal in Everton's opening defeat to Wolfsburg U21s in The Premier League International Cup, two more sub appearances in that competition and unused sub opportunities in two EFL Trophy matches represent the only action he saw in his first half-season with Everton.

A loan move to Northampton Town in January 2018 was supposed to help him develop and give him some first-team action. But, after just five appearances and no goals, he was sent back to Finch Farm following upheaval at the Cobblers with the sacking of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and the early termination of a number of other loanees; this represents the latest setback in his debut English season. Unsworth finally played him as a sub off the bench in the last two PL2 games.

Mathis had one more season on his Everton contract.  That would not pan out to be any improvement on his first, with David Unsworth once again overlooking him for any role in the league campaign as his side topped the PL2 table. Mathis made just one sub appearance in the whole of the 2018-19 season, at Barnsley in the EFL trophy. It came as no real surprise therefore when he was released by the club at the end of the season.

FactFile