South Africa international midfielder Steven Pienaar has completed a permanent transfer back to former club Everton from Tottenham Hotspur on a four-year deal for £4.5 million (US$7.04 million), the Merseyside club announced on Tuesday.
Pienaar, 30, left Goodison Park for Spurs in January last year, but failed to impress in North London and started just five league games before returning to Everton on loan in January.
On his return to Everton, Pienaar scored four goals in 14 league games to help them finish seventh and boss David Moyes stated his desire to re-sign the South African earlier this month.
“We are keen on Pienaar and I hope in time we would be able to conclude that deal,” he said.
“I don’t know if the situation has changed [with Andre Villas-Boas coming in as new Spurs manager], but Steven has made it very clear he wants to come back here and my understanding is that hasn’t changed,” Moyes added. “My next job in the coming weeks is to get Steven Pienaar here as well.”
Pienaar told evertontv: “I am happy to be here. It took a few weeks to sort out, but I am delighted to be back and excited to play for Everton.”
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