Andros Townsend, who was available on a free transfer after his contract with Crystal Palace expired, is reunited with Everton boss Rafael Benitez.
Follow Us
Premier League club Everton have completed the signing of free agent Andros Townsend on a two-year contract. The English winger arrives at the Merseyside club on a free transfer having seen his five-year spell with Crystal Palace come to an end earlier this summer, with his contract at Selhurst Park expiring. After Rafael Benitez was appointed manager last month, Townsend becomes Everton’s first signing. It is also to be noted that the 30-year-old player has reunited with Benitez, having previously played under the Spaniard at Newcastle United.
“I think everyone knows what Everton is. It’s a massive football club, it’s very ambitious, a club which has been trying to get back to where it belongs into Europe and beyond,” Townsend told evertontv. “I’ll be doing all I can to help the club do that. Rafa is very experienced. He does a lot of work on the tactical side on the training pitch, he leaves no stone unturned. But more importantly, he’s a great man, a great man-manager, and he’s always talking to you. I’m sure he will be very successful here.”
Andros Townsend was at Newcastle under Benitez during the second half of the 2015/16 season on loan from Tottenham Hotspur. He scored four goals in 13 appearances despite Newcastle being relegated from the Premier League. Palace then signed him at the end of that season as the winger went on to score 16 goals in 185 appearances.
Welcome, @andros_townsend! ? pic.twitter.com/eWwvhawJKT
— Everton (@Everton) July 20, 2021
Townsend, who came through the youth ranks at Tottenham, took to social media to thank Crystal Palace staff and fans for their support during his time at Selhurst Park. “After five amazing years and countless memories, it’s time to say my goodbyes to everyone at Crystal Palace,” Townsend wrote.
“I’d like to say particular thank yous to the chairman for bringing me to Selhurst and giving me the opportunity to wear the red and blue, to Sam (Allardyce) and Roy (Hodgson) for their belief in me, and to my teammates for the special moments we enjoyed together on the pitch.”
While thanking the fans, he also regretted that they could not say “goodbye properly”. “To the Palace fans. The beating heart of the club. To each and every one of you… thank you. Thank you for all your supports, it’s that support which makes the club and Selhurst Park so special,” Andros Townsend added.
“It’s a shame we didn’t get to say goodbye properly, but we’ll be seeing each other soon enough and I’m already looking forward to returning to Selhurst when we meet again.”
Everton endured a roller-coaster 2020-21 Premier League season. After starting the season with plenty of good results, their form started to dip. In the end, Everton finished tenth in the league. The Merseyside club will begin their upcoming Premier League campaign at home to Southampton on the opening weekend of the season. Their first match with Crystal Palace will come at Selhurst Park in December. Everton will hope to build on last season’s performance and will aim to finish higher up in the league table this time around.
