MAROUANE FELLAINI admits he could have engineered a move away from Everton FC – rather than show his gratitude to the club by signing a new contract.

The protracted saga over Fellaini's Everton FC future was brought to an end yesterday when he finally put pen to paper on a five-year deal worth £70,000 a week.

Fellaini, who becomes the club’s highest earner, was being tracked by a number of leading European clubs including Arsenal, Chelsea and Spanish giants Real Madrid.

The departure of Mikel Arteta in the summer had raised alarm among supporters that Fellaini could follow suit, particularly given the midfielder had entered the final two years of his contract.

But the 23-year-old believes Everton still possess the necessary ambition despite their ongoing financial restraints, and wants to repay the faith shown in him by David Moyes in bringing him to Goodison.

“I am happy to play here,” said Fellaini. “I have a good relationship with the manager and the chairman and I still feel the club has ambition.

“Okay, this season the club has not bought players, it has been difficult, but Everton still has big ambition to establish themselves as a big club again. That is why I signed.

“I was relatively unknown when I came here and the manager showed a lot of confidence in me.

“It is not so much that he took a gamble, but he put a lot of faith in me as a player.