Manuel Fernandes’s Everton timeline

Jan 11 2008 by Chris Beesley, Liverpool Daily Post

January 23 2007 – Passes a medical and takes part in light training as he waits on paperwork.

January 25 – Everton spokesman says: “The player wants to come and we want him to come but these things are never as simple as they seem.”

January 29 – Benfica claim a deal is done, “We have reached an agreement with Everton.”

January 30 – Everton trying to structure an agreement over the player’s registration.

January 31 – Loan move to Goodison is finally completed on the final day of the transfer window.

February 3 – Is included in the Everton squad for the first time and is an unused substitute for the 0-0 derby draw at Anfield.

February 10 – Is booked on his debut, a 1-0 Premier League win against Blackburn at Goodison Park.

February 24 – Scores his first Everton goal in a 3-0 victory at Watford.

April 28 – On the mark again in spectacular fashion against Manchester United but the champions-elect recover from 2-0 down to triumph 4-2 at Goodison.

May 13 – Plays 77 minutes in the 1-1 draw at Chelsea on the final day of the season, his ninth appearance in an Everton shirt.

August 10 – Reports that Fernandes is set for an Everton return ‘within the next 24 hours’.

August 14 – Is on the verge of leaving Benfica after being withdrawn from their Champions League squad.

August 17 – Fernandes is on Merseyside having passed the first part of his medical and agreed personal terms.

August 18 – The move to Everton seems completed after the player undergoes the second half of his medical.

August 21 – Everton are still waiting on FA and Premier League clearance to sign Fernandes.

August 25 – Everton are waiting on the final part of Fernandes’s contract to be okayed. Manager David Moyes says: “I’m hearing good things that it’s nearly done. It’s just a matter of putting that final paperwork through.”

August 27 – Bemused Goodison Park officials are trying to contact the midfielder after claims from Valencia that he had joined them after verbally agreeing with Bill Kenwright to come to Everton after the Blackburn game on August 25.

August 28 – Fernandes is pictured with a Valencia shirt after completing a £12million move to the Spanish club.

Everton’s director of communications Ian Ross says: “We worked hard all last week on what was a very difficult and complex three-party agreement.”