Australian Captain Neill Joins Toffees

September 17, 2009

Australian Captain Lucas Neill has now finalised a move to Premier League club Everton.

The 31-year-old, who was a free agent after turning down an offer to stay at his former club West Ham, signed a one-year deal after passing a medical at Goodison Park, where he will team up with international teammate Tim Cahill.

Neill had also attracted interest from Atletico Madrid, Galatasaray and Sunderland but had not been able to conclude a deal with any of them.

The move will now help Neill get back into match fitness for the Socceroos preparations for South Africa next year. However, due to Everton’s injury woes, especially in the backline, being released for international duty may prove to be a problem for Neill.

The Socceroos play a friendly against the Dutch in Sydney next month, followed by an Asian Cup qualifying match against Oman a few days later in Melbourne. With the promise from both Australian players and coach Pim Verbeek of maintaining full strength sides for both World Cup preparation and Asian Cup qualification, Neill and Cahill could find it problematic to make the trip, despite both matches being FIFA Sanctioned international dates.

Neill will also not be able to play in the Europa League but offers manager David Moyes cover across the back four positions.

Everton’s injury problems and the loss of Joleon Lescott to Manchester City have contributed to the club making their worst start to a league campaign under Moyes.

The Toffees have lost three of their first four matches and are currently residing in the relegation zone.

The Socceroos have qualified for South Africa 2010, but are currently at the bottom of their Asian Cup qualification table.

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