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In the middle of today’s Argentina game at the World Cup, Everton dropped some news that caught us off guard. Central defender Ramiro Funes Mori has been transferred to Villarreal in Spain.
| @funesmoriofi25 has joined @Eng_Villarreal on a four year deal for an undisclosed fee.https://t.co/2izpI3LYWe pic.twitter.com/ZalDRAblh9
— Everton (@Everton) June 21, 2018
The fee is undisclosed at this time, and quickly does away with speculation from this morning that Funes Mori was on his way to Middlesbrough. It also would not have been a surprise to see RFM stay at Everton, particularly with Ashley Williams on his way out and Phil Jagielka aging.
¡Bienvenido al #Villarreal! El central argentino @funesmoriofi25 refuerza la zaga ⚽️ del Submarino Amarillo. Llega procedente del @Everton y firma por cuatro temporadas. #BenvingutFunesMori Más info https://t.co/d0oF1tT0Ie pic.twitter.com/EEapoZH7h9
— Villarreal CF (@VillarrealCF) June 21, 2018
He joins the Spanish side on a four year deal, with Villareal looking to bolster their squad for a Europa League run after finishing in fifth place in the recently-ended La Liga season.
The news brings with it a near certainty that Everton will purchase another center back this summer. Michael Keane is now the only player in that position with any sort of stability to his game, and at least one new face will be needed.
Funes Mori was never the most talented player on the pitch, but he was effective in his own way. Passionate and powerful in the air, Ramiro will serve the Yellow Submarine well, and we wish him all the best moving forward.