Football: Everton land Senegal star Niasse from Lokomotiv

Oumar Niasse (right) vies for the ball with Besiktas' Ersan Gulum during the Uefa Europa League group H football match. PHOTO: AFP

LONDON (AFP) - Everton have sealed a £13.5 million (S$27.7 million) deal to sign Senegal striker Oumar Niasse from Lokomotiv Moscow, the Premier League club confirmed on Monday.

Niasse agreed a four-and-a-half-year contract after completing a medical at Everton's Finch Farm training base.

The 25-year-old was the Russian Premier League's player of the year in 2015 and scored 13 goals in 23 appearances for Lokomotiv this season.

"It's a great day for me, a big dream to play in the Premier League and a big dream to play for Everton," Niasse told Evertontv.

"Everton is one of the best teams in the Premier League and the Premier League is one of the best leagues in the world.

"I know Everton is one of the big clubs here in England with history, the fans and the great players, so I'm very excited and happy to be here.

"I started to watch Everton more since the beginning of October because I had heard about their interest.

"I was interested to see how they play and how they have good young players. If you see players who are aged 20 or 21 and see them perform like that, you know you have a good coach.

"The manager has said exactly what he wants. He believes I can be a player who can add something to the team." Niasse comes in as a replacement for Steven Naismith, who was sold to Norwich for $17.5 million earlier in the current transfer window.

He becomes Everton's third most expensive signing and is expected to have the necessary visa clearance in order to be eligible for this weekend's Premier League match at Stoke.

Niasse will be presented to fans at Everton's home game against Newcastle on Wednesday.

"We're delighted because Oumar is a player we have been following for a long time," Toffees manager Roberto Martinez said.

"He is the right personality and someone who is in a very good moment of his career. He has had a lot of success in Russia and he brings a different quality to what we already have in our squad.

"He's going to have a massive impact going forward. He brings a real hunger and desire to be successful into what is already a strong squad."

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