Sunday, August 30, 2009

Everton agree �5m Heitinga deal

Steven Gerrard and Johnny Heitinga
Tall and rangy, Heitinga is an established Dutch international

Everton are closing in on signing Johnny Heitinga after agreeing a fee of £5m with Atletico Madrid for the 25-year-old Netherlands defender.

Toffees manager David Moyes said on Sunday that a deal had been done with the Spanish club, but that there is still work to do to get the player.

"We have not as yet agreed personal terms," he said.

"I hope we will be able to do that soon, but we have not as yet concluded that part of the move."

The deal must be concluded before the transfer window closes on Tuesday.

606: DEBATE

Everton recently sold central defender Joleon Lescott to Manchester City for about £22m but signed Sylvain Distin from Portsmouth on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee on Friday.

Heitinga, who can play at right-back and centre-back joined Atletico in July 2008 from Ajax on a five-year contract.

On Sunday he played for Atletico in their 3-0 defeat by Malaga on the opening day of the Spanish season.

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