Everton have announced they have signed Cuco Martina on a three-year deal after the defender was released by Southampton at the start of the month.
Ronald Koeman was responsible for bringing Martina to the Premier League during his stint as Southampton head coach and has now reunited with the Curacao international.
With Seamous Coleman not expected back until the second half of next season after suffering a double leg break back in March, the Everton manager has wisely sought added cover at right-back in the form of Martina.
The 27-year-old has spent the last two years at Southampton but was released this summer after the south coast outfit opted against renewing his contract.
“Everton is a big club with big ambitions and I’m really looking forward to joining this group of players and the manager as we try to step forward next season,” he told Everton’s official website.
“Obviously, I know the manager from my time at Southampton, so I know what he wants and he knows what I can do.
“Everton supporters are really passionate about their club and everyone’s excited about where the club is aiming. You can see this is a club that wants to achieve something and the players we are bringing certainly show this.
“When you come to a new club, you need to get to know one another so the training camp in Holland will be great for me and for the other new players as well. We will play against Twente, one of my old clubs too, and I’m really looking forward to showing everyone what I can do.”
Martina is now the seventh new signing Everton have made this summer. In two years at Southampton, Martina only managed 24 Premier League appearances and he was limited to just six starts last season in the wake of Koeman’s departure.
The right-back is best known for the wonder goal he scored against Arsenal during his debut campaign at the club and he will now compete for places at right-back with Mason Holgate until Coleman is back fit again.
For more stats on Cuco Martina, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
