Everton have announced the transfer of midfielder Christian Nørgaard from Arsenal. The 32-year-old Denmark international joins the Toffees on a two-year contract, with the transfer fee not disclosed but rumoured to be in the £7 million range. He is Everton’s fourth signing of the summer transfer window after the additions of Merlin Röhl, Tyrique George and Hayden Hackney.
He has 41 caps for the Danish side, having made his debut against England in 2020. Nørgaard made his name with Brentford over six
seasons, making 196 appearances and was for the last two seasons before his transfer to Arsenal last summer for £10m, and a further £2m in add-ons. The Dane only featured 20 times for the Premier League champions, with just seven of those appearances coming in the league itself.
Speaking to evertontv after signing his contract, Nørgaard said –
“It feels amazing. I’m so, so happy and pleased to have joined Everton.
“There were many factors to it. I felt I needed a change and to play a bigger football role. When I spoke to David Moyes and others at the Club involved in the transfer, I heard about the whole project and I was very intrigued. Coming here just makes that feeling even stronger.
“Also, my past experience of playing against Everton: the whole atmosphere, the fans, is something I really look forward to experience as an Everton player. It’s a big, big honour for me, and it’s something I’ll do my very best, not only on game days, but in general to remember how much it means for people who support this club. It will be my mindset to represent the Club in the best possible way.
“I can’t wait to experience the atmosphere as an Everton player. Goodison was amazing. I just remember the ground was shaking – literally shaking. Then we came to the new stadium last year and I was so surprised because you often see clubs lose that intimacy and atmosphere [at a new stadium]. But I was so overwhelmed by how good the atmosphere was as well. So I can see that the soul from Goodison has been brought to the new stadium.”
Nørgaard added that he had talked to former Blue and current Gunners manager Mikel Arteta about the Toffees –
“I spoke to him quite a lot about the potential move. And he had only positive things to say about Everton and also David Moyes.
“He played for him for a long time and the whole experience he had as an Everton player seemed to me as if he had a fantastic time here and really also excelled as a player under David Moyes. Hopefully I can get the same feeling as an Everton player.”
Arsenal captain Declan Rice has spoken highly of the Dane’s leadership qualities, and Norgaard had this to say –
“I think leadership is something I have to bring and it’s something I will bring without really thinking about it. Hopefully that will fit in really good with the culture and with how the players are here.
“I think the Club is moving in the right direction and last year was proof of that. I thought there were so many good players in the team and Everton was so difficult to play against.
“Last year they were in the mix for the European spots and I think that probably leads into this season as if we can take another step and fight for an even higher place. There is a lot of optimism around the place. I can’t wait to join in on that.”
With the confirmation of Nørgaard, the expectation is that Celtic fullback Alistair Johnston will be the next in through the doors at Finch Farm.
