Everton sign Dele Alli from Tottenham

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) – Everton have strengthened their midfield with England international Dele Alli as the 25-year-old has left Tottenham Hotspur for Toffees.

"Everton have completed the signing of midfielder Dele Alli from Tottenham Hotspur on a two-and-a-half-year contract until the end of June 2024," the English Premier League club said in a statement on Tuesday.

Dele Alli was one of the valuable members of Tottenham as he piled up 269 appearances to score 67 goals after joining Spurs in February 2015.

The English attacking midfielder is Everton's latest signing following Dutch midfielder Donny van de Beek's loan move from Manchester United on Monday evening.

"I'm delighted to have signed for Everton, a huge club with a great fanbase and history.

"I'm eager to get started and can't wait for my first game in an Everton shirt," Alli said, adding that he looks forward to working with Everton's new manager Frank Lampard, who is one of the English football legends.

This season Alli had 18 appearances to score two goals for Spurs.

Alli was a Tottenham midfielder to play in the 2019 UEFA Champions League final as Spurs lost to Liverpool 2-0 in Madrid.

Separately he bagged 37 international caps for his native England.

Alli was one of the key players for the English national team in the 2018 FIFA World Cup as he helped the Three Lions reach the semifinals, where they were eliminated by Croatia 2-1.

England ended the Russia 2018 in the fourth spot over a 2-0 loss to Belgium in a third-place playoff.