Everton has finalized the acquisition of Denmark international Christian Nørgaard from Arsenal, as announced by the clubs on Wednesday.
The 32-year-old midfielder has signed a two-year contract with Everton. He joined Arsenal from Brentford last summer but only made seven league starts during their title-winning season.
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“I felt it was time for a change and to take on a more significant football role,” Nørgaard stated, marking him as Everton’s fourth summer signing.
“During discussions with David Moyes and others involved in the transfer, I learned about the overall project, which intrigued me greatly. Coming here has only strengthened that feeling.”
“Additionally, my past experiences playing against Everton—the atmosphere, the fans—are things I genuinely look forward to experiencing as an Everton player. It’s a tremendous honor for me.”
Nørgaard’s transfer to Everton comes as ESPN reports that Arsenal is nearing a deal to bring in Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimarães.
The two Premier League sides have reportedly agreed on a deal structure that will see the Brazilian midfielder move to the Emirates for a guaranteed fee of £75 million (approximately $101 million), as per sources close to ESPN’s Bruno Andrade.
Nørgaard previously played six years at Brentford after arriving from Serie A club Fiorentina. He mentioned that he spoke with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta about the move to Merseyside, noting Arteta’s past with Everton under their current coach David Moyes.
“I spoke with him extensively about the potential transfer,” Nørgaard remarked. “He had only good things to say about Everton and David Moyes, detailing his fantastic time as a player under him. I hope to have a similar experience at Everton.”
Regarding Nørgaard’s exit after Arsenal’s preseason match against Betis, Arteta commented: “He played a vital role for us. When I brought him in, I referred to him as our glue player, possessing an incredible ability to unite the team and maintain high standards. He had some excellent moments on the field, but I understand that fulfilling that role continuously is a challenge. This was a tremendous opportunity for him with a manager and club he knows well, and we wish him the best while expressing our gratitude.”
PA contributed to this report.