Fulham sign Alex Iwobi from Everton late on deadline day in deal worth up to £22m… as Nigeria international reveals why he is ‘buzzing’ to be reunited with former boss Marco Silva

Alex Iwobi will be reunited with Marco Silva at Craven Cottage after Fulham completed the signing of the Everton midfielder in a deal which could be worth £22million.

The Nigeria international signed a five-year deal with the Cottagers and said Silva had been instrumental in convincing him to move back to London.

‘I’m buzzing, I just can’t wait to get started, I’m excited to start my journey here,’ he told Fulham’s official website.

‘Marco Silva spoke to me about the ambitions of the Club, and I’m on board. Hopefully I can bring something to the Club.’

Silva brought Iwobi to Everton from Arsenal in the summer of 2019, but the Portuguese was dismissed three months later with the Toffees 18th on the table. 

Alex Iwobi has signed for Fulham from Everton in a £22m deal late on deadline day

In four seasons at the club, Iwobi made 123 Premier League appearances for Everton, scoring six times. He was named Players’ Player of the Season and was one of the Toffees’ best players as Everton narrowly avoided relegation. 

The 27-year-old played the whole 90 minutes as Everton lost 1-0 at home to Fulham on the opening day of the Premier League season.

But he picked up a hamstring injury in Everton’s 4-0 loss against Aston Villa and missed his former club’s 1-0 defeat at home to Wolves last week.   

The Nigeria international arrived at Craven Cottage despite Joao Palhinha’s move to Bayern Munich collapsing earlier on deadline day.

The German club put in an initial offer of £47m, though this was subsequently rejected by the London club – who priced him at £90m initially. 

The move fell through as the London club were unable to find a replacement in time – not helped by the German window closing earlier than the English one.

Fulham wanted to keep Palhinha, though the player was ready to leave. Bayern made a bid which would ‘easily’ have smashed Fulham’s transfer record – up to £70m.

The Cottagers also completed a loan deal for AC Milan and Senegal left back Fode Ballo-Toure. 

The Nigeria international will be reunited with Marco Silva, who signed him at Everton

Iwobi has penned a five-year deal with the Cottages after signing late on Friday evening

The Nigeria international made 123 Premier League appearances for Everton, scoring six times

The 26-year-old managed just 26 appearances in all competitions for the Serie A giants in the past two seasons after joining from Monaco. 

Meanwhile, Everton also parted ways with Tom Cannon on Friday, with the striker joining Leicester City for an undisclosed fee.

Cannon first joined the Toffees’ academy aged 10 and made his senior team debut against Bournemouth in November last year, before spending the second half of last season on loan in the Championship at Preston North End where he scored eight goals in 21 appearances.

‘Everyone at Everton wishes Tom all the best for the future,’ the club said in a statement.