CONFIRMED: Everton sign Yerry Mina

It took much longer than it should have in all honesty, but Yerry Mina is finally an Everton player after undergoing a medical in Spain earlier today. Mina joins on a transfer fee worth 30.25 million euros, with 1.5 million in bonuses. The deal contains a buy-back clause for Barcelona, which is common in the Spanish club’s transfer proceedings.

In a protracted chase for the player that started just over a month ago halfway through the World Cup, the Blues faced competition from Manchester United and Olympique Lyonnais before getting the deal done right on deadline day.

The lanky 23-year-old central defender will add pace and physicality to a depleted and lumbering Everton backline that struggled mightily last season, and has somehow looked even worse in the preseason.

Mina did not get to feature much at Barcelona after joining the Spanish giants just this January, featuring in just six games. Barca currently have five non-EU players on their books and will need to bring that number down to three before the close of the window at the end of the month.

The defender played a starring role for Colombia in last month’s World Cup, scoring thrice with towering headers, including a last minute equalizer against Jordan Pickford’s England side in the Round of 16. Mina has an incredible six goals in just 15 senior international appearances.

While still a work in progress, the defender certainly has the tools to become a solid part of the Everton backline, especially with Marco Silva’s 4-3-3 demanding speed and athleticism from the centrehalves as they push up high.