City stint
Versatile 29-year-old Delph had been on the books of Premier League champions City since the summer of 2015, when he made the move to the Etihad from Aston Villa.
The years since, though, had seen the Leeds United youth product’s game-time largely fluctuate, amid a number of lengthy injury problems.
The 2017/18 campaign proved the English international’s most productive with the Sky Blues, as Delph racked up 21 Premier League starts, en route to the English top-flight title.
This past season, however, saw the 29-year-old, who was generally deployed at left-back by Pep Guardiola, notch just 8 league starts.
Fabian Delph during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final first-leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City. (Photo by Victoria Haydn/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)
Everton switch
As such, amid claims that City expect Benjamin Mendy to return to play a prominent role next season, and the faith showcased by the Citizens in Oleksandr Zinchenko based on the youngster’s new long-term contract, Delph had long looked set to be the odd man out at the Etihad next season.
This subsequently led to suggestions that City were ready to part with the versatile midfielder this summer, for the right price.
Everton, meanwhile, emerged as the clear frontrunners to secure his signature last week.
And, as per the aforementioned announcement across the Toffees’ social media platforms, Delph’s move to Goodison Park has come to fruition tonight:
✅ High Quality
✅ Experience
✅ Hunger
✅ Ambition
City, meanwhile, have since wished their now-former star the best of luck with their Premier League rivals:
Delph has put pen-to-paper on a 3-year deal with Everton.
And, though no official word has been forthcoming on the fee involved, the BBC suggest that the Merseysiders have splashed out around £10 million on the 29-year-old’s signature.
‘Really happy to be here’
Speaking in an interview with Evertontv on the back of his move being made official, Delph explained:
‘Every time I have played against Everton, whether it was home or away, straight away the first thing that comes to mind when you see the fans is passion. The Everton fans seem to know football, seem to understand it, it seems to be in their blood and they really back the team.’
‘You are always going to hear Evertonians and I’m excited to play at home and hear them when I am playing.’
‘I’m really happy to be here. I’m going to give absolutely everything – nothing less than 100 per cent.’
‘Hopefully we can push together, fans and players, to do something special.’