CONFIRMED: Everton sign young forward

Everton have made their first move of the January transfer window by signing Ademola Lookman from Charlton Athletic for an unconfirmed sum of £11m.

This deal has been in the works from before the Christmas holiday period, with word going around that the Blues’ Director of Football Steve Walsh thought very highly of the player.

Lookman is a tricky winger with good pace and dribbling skills, and is likely to play in a similar role that Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Enner Valencia have been in, supporting striker Romelu Lukaku.

Charlton had asked for the player to be loaned back to the club after the purchase, but Everton insisted that the 19-year-old would be in contention for a place in the Toffees senior squad.

Lookman has scored seven goals and registered two assists in 25 games for League One Charlton this season. He was omitted from the Addicks’ squad for the trip to Southend on New Year’s Eve, with manager Karl Robinson saying he left the youngster out of his squad to protect the player’s “dream”, with the move imminent then.

The forward has already made five appearances for the England Under-19 team, and three appearances with one goal for the national Under-20 side where Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a teammate of his.