Everton have reportedly completed the signing of midfielder Abdoulaye Doucouré from Watford on a four-year deal for a fee in the region of €25 million.
According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the two parties reportedly agreed terms last Wednesday, with the 27 year-old completing a medical prior to signing a contract today.
It is believed that the midfielder will officially be unveiled in due course by the club.
The former French under-21 international becomes The Toffees third high-profile signing within a matter of days, following the acquisitions of Allan and James Rodríguez, from Napoli and Real Madrid respectively.
Doucouré made 141 appearances for The Hornets in all competitions, since joining from Rennes in February 2016 under then-manager Quique Sánchez Flores.
The defensive-midfielder scored 17 goals and provided 12 assists from 129 league appearances, with a handful of strikes coming in spectacular fashion.
What will Abdoulaye Doucouré bring to The Toffees?
He will certainly bolster The Toffees midfield alongside Allan, who is a similar player, and will bring a more combative and agile dimension to Carlo Ancelotti‘s midfield.
Doucouré is a box-to-box midfielder and likes to carry the ball forward. He is known for his transitional play, such as making surging runs from his own-half, in order to get his team out of danger and into more promising attacking positions.
He is quick and enjoys taking players on and usually his long strides forward, often make him susceptible to fouls. His aerial presence from set-pieces will also give Everton further options, especially with Yerry Mina, Michael Keane and former Hornets teammate Richarlison.
Hailed at The Hornets
Throughout his Watford league career, Doucouré has managed 6697 passes and averaged 51.91 passes per match. He made 231 tackles, with a tackle success rate of 58%, which will only get better at a respectively better defensive-side in Everton, who conceded eight goals fewer last season.
He was an integral member of the Hertfordshire side in the last four of their five seasons in the Premier League, which ultimately came to an end last campaign, as they were relegated on the final day.
Doucouré was involved in eleven goals during the 2017-18 campaign – scoring seven times and assisting four goals, as the team finished 14th. He was awarded the player of the season accolade for The Hornets.
He managed the same number of goal involvements the following campaign, scoring five goals and providing six assists, as the team sealed an 11th-placed league finish and fell short to Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
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