Rondon reunites with Blues manager Rafa Benitez following a productive season working with the Spaniard at Newcastle United in 2018/19.
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Salomon Rondon has completed a transfer-deadline day move to Everton from Chinese club Dalian Professional on a free transfer, signing a two-year contract with the option for a third season. The Venezuelan striker reunites with Blues manager Rafa Benitez following a productive season working with the Spaniard at Newcastle United in 2018/19. The duo further enjoyed a fine relationship at Dalian Professional. In his single St James’ Park campaign, while on loan from the player’s first English club, West Bromwich Albion, Rondon scored 11 goals and provided seven assists from 32 Premier League appearances.
“I’m really glad to be back in the Premier League. It’s a competition I enjoyed playing in and where I felt the fans’ support in every game. Defending the colours of a club with a history as rich as Everton’s fills me with pride. I can’t wait to pull on the shirt and be reunited with Rafa Benítez, a coach who has changed the way I understand the game. I’m really grateful for the faith he’s shown in me,” stated the footballer following the confirmation of the deal.
The 31-year-old centre-forward has 83 senior caps and a national team record 31 goals for his country. Rondon made his professional debut for Aragua FC in Venezuela at the age of 17. He played in Spain with Las Palmas and Malaga before spells in Russia with Rubin Kazan and Zenit Saint Petersburg, where he won a league title in 2014/15, after starting his career in his homeland with Aragua FC.
West Brom paid a club-record £12m to sign Rondón in time for the following season. The footballer became the focal point of the Baggies’ attack over three years prior to his loan switch to Newcastle.
While with the Magpies under Benitez, Rondón was quickly installed as a genuine fans’ favourite and claimed the club’s player of the year prize. He followed the manager to China in the summer of 2019, recording nine goals and supplying four assists in 14 matches in the 2020 Chinese Super League season. The player returned to Russia for the closing months of 2020/21, joining CSKA Moscow on loan. Rondon scored four goals and provided two assists in 10 games.
Everton defender Niels Nkounkou has completed a season-long loan move to Belgian club Standard Liege. French left-back Nkounkou joined Everton in the summer of 2020 following three years with Marseille in his homeland. The 20-year-old was part of the France squad at this summer’s Tokyo Olympics. Nkounkou made his Everton debut in a Carabao Cup victory over Salford City last September. The footballer made six first-team appearances in 2020/21 and has featured once this season, in the Carabao Cup second-round win at Huddersfield Town.
Japan international Takehiro Tomiyasu has joined Arsenal from Serie A side Bologna on a long-term contract. The 22-year-old defender started his career in his homeland with Avispa Fukuoka, where he developed through their youth ranks before making 45 first-team appearances between 2015 and 2017.
