IN-DEPTH NEWS
Kilbane departs for Wigan
Kevin Kilbane: His last performance in an Everton jersey was an ignominious one
The Irishman flew back from his country's preparations for the Euro 2008 qualifiier against Germany in Stuttgart to hold talks with Paul Jewell and undergo a medical at the JJB Stadium.
He has signed a three-year contract with an option for a further year and the fee agreed between the clubs is reported to be in the region of £2m, significantly more than Fulham were rumoured to have offered for the 29 year-old earlier this week.
Kilbane was one of four players signed in a whirlwind of transfer activity on deadline day in August 2003 which saw the arrival of James McFadden (£1.5m), Nigel Martyn (£500k) and Francis Jeffers (loan). And while many Evertonians were nonplussed by David Moyes's decsion to splash out £1.1m on a player who had come to be vilified by Sunderland fans, Kilbane quickly set about the task of proving the doubters wrong.
In his first two seasons with the club, he was a revelation on the left flank, seemingly repaying the faith instilled in him by Moyes with whom he had worked at Preston before moving on to Wearside. True to form, however, the quality of his performances inexplicably nose-dived after that and he became something of a liability at times in an otherwise improving squad.
Solid and dependable in his central midfield role for the Republic of Ireland, the player once affectionately dubbed Kinedine Kilbane by Blues fans was unable to translate that international form to Everton's left flank.
Nevertheless, Moyes retained his faith in the player and, after calling on him in the pre-season to score more goals this campaign, he deployed him from the start at Blackburn and Tottenham.
Unfortunately for Kilbane, his final performance in an Everton jersey was an ignominious one; he was sent off for two bookable offences within the first 32 minutes at White Hart Lane. The Blues, of course, went on to bury a 21 year-old hoodoo on that ground with a stunning 2-0 win. As fate would have it, the first game for which he will be eligible for the Latics after his suspension will be Wigan's visit to Goodison on 16th September.
Moyes will no doubt have been reluctant to reduce his options in left midfield but the £2m he will receive for Kilbane was too good an offer to turn down. With James McFadden, Leon Osman and Mikel Arteta all able to play wide left if Andy van der Meyde continues his frustrating residence on the sidelines, the boss will feel he has ample cover until he can bring in reinforcements in January.
Update: The Liverpool Echo report that the final fee was £2m, rising to £2.25m based on appearances.