Samuel Eto'o joins Everton on a two-year deal

Samuel Eto’o after completing his move to Everton

Everton have completed the signing of four-time African Player of The Year winner and Cameroon international forward Samuel Eto’o on a free transfer, the club announced.

The 33-year-old has been a free agent since his release from Chelsea at the end of last season. Eto'o joined Chelsea on a one-year deal last summer but failed to impress Jose Mourinho after managing to score 12 goals in all competitions for the Blues, with nine of those coming in the Premier League.

He has been linked with moves to Ajax, Arsenal and Liverpool, but the £16m arrival of Mario Balotelli at Anfield ruled the option of Merseyside out.

The transfer represents Roberto Martinez’s second signing of a Chelsea forward in as many months after the Toffees were able to bag the impressive Belgian international Romelu Lukaku for a club record transfer fee of £28million.

Martinez has had a shortage of options upfront and was forced to play Steven Naysmith as the main forward in their opening Premier League game. Arouna Kone has had perpetual injury problem since joining from Wigan last summer, while Nikica Jelavic was let go permanently this summer to Hull.

Eto’o not only brings goals, but a vast amount experience into the dressing room at Goodison Park as Martinez looks to push on for a Champions League spot this campaign after finishing fifth in his first year in charge of the Toffees last season.

Eto'o has already enjoyed a storied career, winning the Champions League three times and picking up four league titles with Barcelona and Inter Milan.

ETO’O SIGNS: Everton sign 3-times Champions League winner @setoo9 on a two-year deal. #WelcomeSamuel pic.twitter.com/45wLXhDqae

— Everton (@Everton) August 26, 2014