Don't get too excited though, it's "just" a 19-year old Greek so a signing for the future. Apostolos Vellios spent all of his (yet short) professional career in his home town Thessaloniki, playing for Iraklis. The Toffees pay approx. $400k (€300k, £250k) for the Greek U-19 international (7 goals in 14 matches) who a lot of European teams wanted to sign.
More after the jump:
I'd love to tell you some things about him now but, to be honest, don't really know him. So instead I'll just provide you with some stuff from his Wikipedia entry which is surprisingly detailed:
Vellios started his professional career at Iraklis in 2008. He made his debut against in a 4-1 away defeat by Skoda Xanthi on 26 April 2009, as he came in as a late substitute for Dimitris Giantsis, for the last round of the 2008-2009 season. His first goal was an equalizer in injury time against Olympiakos F.C. in Karaiskakis Stadium on 7 November 2009, to help Iraklis escape with an away draw against greek giants. He was named MVP of the 10th round of the Greek Superleague for his performance in that match. He also scored against Atromitos at home for a 2–2 draw. At the end of the season he totalled 9 appearances for the club, all as a substitute, and 2 goals. His third goal for the club came in Iraklis' first match for the 2010-2011 season, at home against Olympiacos, a match that ended 2-1 in favour of Iraklis. In his first match as a starter, at AEL FC Arena against AEL, Vellios scored his fourth goal for the club, in a match that Iraklis lost by a 2-1 scoreline.
There was a lot of speculation considering Vellios' future during the 2011 winter transfer window. At first, it was Fulham that asked to get Vellios at Craven Cottage, for a 3-day trial, and if he satisfied the club's training staff with his performances, the Cottagers would sign him. Vellios finally refused to move to Fulham on trial. After that he was liked with a move to Olympiacos. At first it was Iraklis' board of directors that rejected Olympiacos' offer to get Vellios during the transfer window. A few days later Olympiacos approached Vellios to sign him at the end of his contract with Iraklis, in 30 June, but Vellios rejected their offer. After that, Vellios was linked with a move to debt ridden AEK. While approaching the closing stages of the transfer window Vellios was linked with a move to Serie A club Bologna. He was expected by the club's officials to move to Bologna to pass a medical, but Vellios rejected their offer in 24 January. On 25 January Iraklis made an offer to Vellios to sign a new three year contract worth 480,000€, setting a deadline to the player to answer untill 28 January. After Vellios missed the deadline, the board of directors of Iraklis reached a transfer agreement with English powerhouse Everton.
Is he the answer for our current goal scoring problems? I'm sure he's not. We can only hope that this isn't the last addition of the season.
I don't want to end this with such a negative statement so imagine, in 3 or 4 years, at Goodison against Liverpool, Apostolos Vellios scores the only goal of the match assisted by Araz Abdullayev. I bet I'm not the only one who likes this thought.