Kevin Kilbane is back in the Premiership after securing a €1.4 million transfer from Sunderland to Everton. The 26-year-old Republic of Ireland international joined David Moyes' sidea after the Wearsiders accepted a bid just before the closure of the transfer window earlier this evening.
Kilbane arrived on Wearside in a €4million move from West Brom in December 1999, but has rarely reproduced the form which made him such a hit at international level under Mick McCarthy.
He landed himself in hot water with the club's fans last summer during a pre-season tour when he let his frustration get the better of him and made a gesture towards the crowd. But, despite the tough time that error of judgment earned him, Kilbane, whose contract was due to expire next summer, never gave less than 100% for the cause.
Indeed, he was in the starting 11 for Saturday's 4-0 win at Bradford and has started all but one of the new manager's 16 games in charge to date.
The move to Goodison Park will reunite him with Moyes, the man who sold him to the Baggies from his home-town club Preston.
Meanwhile, James McFadden completed his €1.8million move to Everton today after Goodison officials narrowly beat the transfer deadline. McFadden became Everton's fourth signing of the day after Blues boss David Moyes also completed deals for Francis Jeffers and Nigel Martyn.
Filed by Johnny Proby
