Moise Kean: I feel at home at Everton

Everton’s latest summer signing Moise Kean has said he believes he belongs at the Blues, and has thanked the players, staff and supporters for the warm welcome he has received.

Striker Kean, 19, completed a £27.5 million move from Juventus on Sunday, and speaking at his official unveiling on Tuesday, paid tribute to director of football Marcel Brands and the Goodison Park faithful in particular.

Brands gave Kean’s mother her own personalised Everton shirt, and promised to ‘look after’ her son, while Blues fans have started a fundraiser for an anti-racism banner after Kean suffered such disgraceful abuse last season in Serie A. He said:

“It’s been very emotional. It [Brands’ gesture] was a great gesture and I felt at home straight away.

It [the anti-racism banner] is beautiful. Racism is horrendous and we have to fight against it. I’m going to repay my fans for all they have done for me.

Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images

Reflecting on the abuse he suffered from Cagliari supporters during their 2-0 home defeat to Juve in April, in which Kean scored, he said he felt he always had the support of those at his former club, despite former team-mate Leonardo Bonucci suggesting ‘the blame is 50-50’ at the time.

But, Kean added, it played no part in his decision to leave both Juventus and Serie A and join Everton, saying it was the excitement of the Blues’ project that lured him in:

“They [Juventus] were on my side; they helped me because, like everybody knows, we have to fight against racism. They’ve been very helpful under the circumstances.

“I like Everton. That’s the reason [for his move]. I recognise myself in the team. Everton are looking ahead, like me, to the future.

“I want to play. I want to prove myself. I want to give 100 per cent of my ability to prove who i am. That’s why I’m here.”

Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images

The 19-year-old striker also reiterated his desire to give his best for Everton, who he is grateful for the amount of faith shown in him, and said his and the team’s aim for the upcoming season is simply to do the best they can:

“I’m feeling even more motivated to repay them. I’m training to 100 per cent of my ability and giving the maximum I can.

“For the team, the target is to do as well as possible. For me, I’m a striker, so my objective is to score as many goals as I can.”

Kean also added that he is perfectly fine to feature in Everton’s 2019-20 curtain raiser, away at Crystal Palace, on Saturday.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, it was revealed that the Italian will wear number 27 for the Blues, with fellow striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin set to take the vacant nine.