Everton have signed striker Jermaine Beckford on a four-year deal, the Premier League club said on Monday.
The 26-year-old scored 31 goals for promoted League One side Leeds United last season before being released from his contract at Elland Road.
A former Chelsea youngster, Beckford hit the headlines last season by scoring to knock Manchester United out of the FA Cup at Old Trafford.
Beckford's tally for Leeds was an impressive 85 in 150 appearances and caught the eye of Everton manager David Moyes.
Just four years ago, the striker was plying his trade in non-league football and working as a windscreen fitter.
After passing a medical at the club's Finch Farm training complex, Beckford said: ‘I wish the season was starting tomorrow.
‘I've been fortunate enough to score goals at the clubs that I've been at and hopefully I'll be able to do that here as well. I hope I can hit the ground running.
‘Finch Farm is terrific. It makes such a difference when you've got somewhere like this. I can imagine the players coming in here smiling and if you are happy when you are training, it can only be good.’
Beckford is looking forward to pitting his wits against some of the world's top players.
He said: ‘I am excited by it. It's going to be a test, I know that, but I am looking forward to it.
‘I want to test myself at the highest level and luckily for me, David Moyes showed an interest in me, showed some faith in me and hopefully I can repay that.
‘I've been impressed a lot by him. He seems like the type of guy who will sit down and tell you where you're going wrong, what you're doing right and what you might need to work on.
‘It is a club I can learn from and it can help me develop into a better player. Fingers crossed, I can be really involved in taking this club where it wants to be.’
