Jagielka seals his Everton return

Jul 5 2007 by Nick Smith, Liverpool Daily Post

PHIL JAGIELKA revealed that ‘it’s good to be back’ after signing a five-year contract with Everton last night.

The 24-year-old finally completed his move from Sheffield United, held up for almost two months by his former club’s fight to regain their Premiership status.

The deal, which could see Gary Naysmith moving in the opposite direction, sees Jagielka return to the club that released him as a youngster.

And the Manchester-born midfielder is also keen to return to Goodison after getting a glimpse of the ground’s unique atmosphere playing for United in the Premiership last season – as well as getting the chance to test himself in Europe.

“I am definitely looking forward to running out at Goodison,” said Jagielka.

“When I played here last season the fans were fantastic and hopefully I will get to run out sooner rather than later.

“The manager was keen to sign me and that is always a nice sign. He has done fantastically well here and it is a fantastic club.

“Being in Europe, where we belong, and his pull to bring me here were massive reasons.”

Everton will meet the £4million fee that Jagielka’s release clause from Sheffield United demands but part of it could factor in a £1m valuation for Naysmith, who is in Sheffield for talks with the club today.

The Scot’s departure has been likely since he expressed his desire to be a first-team player at Goodison earlier this summer.

But with the left-back being behind both Joleon Lescott and the man he filled in for last season, Nuno Valente, in the pecking order, he is ready to concede defeat in his fight to earn a regular place.

Naysmith, who joined Everton from Hearts in 2000, intended to have a talk with manager David Moyes about his situation when he returned for pre-season.

And although the 28-year-old, who is out of contract next summer, insisted he didn’t want to leave Everton, he did express frustration at only making 10 starts during the last campaign.

Naysmith said last month: “There comes a time when you ask yourself how long can you be a 16 player rather than a first choice one?

“I don’t have any bad feeling or anything, I’m just a bit frustrated that I never played as much football as I would have liked.

“I’ve always been in the 16 without playing enough games and that’s been frustrating for me.”