Soccer: Ferguson returns to Goodison Park
Thursday, 17 August 2000 16:24Duncan Ferguson's on-off transfer saga has come to an end today with the news that the 28-year-old striker's £3.75million transfer from Newcastle finally went through and he has signed a five-year contract. The Scot was sold to the Magpies for £7million two seasons ago, but has always kept fond feelings for Everton - he has the club badge tattooed on his arm.
Ferguson's move back to his former club collapsed when he demanded that Newcastle pay him a lump sum of loyalty money because he did not seek a transfer away from the club. However, Newcastle refused to meet his demands, despite having already agreed a fee of £3.75 million with Everton, and the deal was put on hold. Since then, Ferguson's agent Dennis Roach and Newcastle boss Bobby Robson have been involved in a war of words through the media. But the issue has now sorted itself out and he is now, again, an Everton player.
At a news conference at Goodison Park he said, "I couldn't imagine it in pre-season. I was, at the time, very happy at Newcastle but since then an opportunity has arisen to come back and I'm delighted. All the fans know how I feel about the club."
