DEAL DONE! Everton complete free signing of Cuco Martina following Southampton exit
Everton have announced the signing of former Southampton defender Cuco Martina on a three-year deal.
The 27-year-old defender arrives at Goodison Park on a free transfer, having seen his contract with Saints expire at the end of the 2016/17 season.
Primarily a right-back, Martina will link up with Ronald Koeman once again, having worked under the Dutchman for one year at St Mary's.
Everton have had a busy summer in the transfer market, bringing in the likes of Wayne Rooney, Sandro Ramirez and Jordan Pickford, and Martina admits their approach persuaded him to move to Merseyside.
"Everton is a big club with big ambitions and I'm really looking forward to joining this group of players and the manager as we try to step forward next season," the defender told evertonfc.com.
"Obviously, I know the manager from my time at Southampton, so I know what he wants and he knows what I can do.
"Everton supporters are really passionate about their club and everyone's excited about where the club is aiming. You can see this is a club that wants to achieve something and the players we are bringing certainly show this."
The Toffees' regular right-back Seamus Coleman suffered a double-leg break while on international duty in March so will miss the start of this campaign, while Koeman was also keen to acquire more defensive options ahead of their return to the Europa League.
"Cuco Martina is an experienced player who can perform in different positions at the back, which is important," Koeman added.
"It's also important, with the number of games we will face in the coming campaign, that we have strength and competition in the squad.
"I brought the player to Southampton, so I know what he can do for us here and this is why I've now brought him to Everton. He is a player who will strengthen our squad and be able to play in different positions when that's needed, too."
Martina made 36 appearances over two seasons with Saints and scored just once, although it was a stunning long-range strike in a 4-0 victory over Arsenal in 2015.
Everton's latest recruit was part of the travelling party bound for Holland on Monday as part of their pre-season preparations.
Under-21 internationals Pickford and Sandro, who missed last week's friendly in Tanzania having been given extra time off after featuring at Euro 2017, were also on the plane but Ross Barkley was not.
The club have explained a groin injury has again prevented the midfielder from joining Koeman's squad.
Barkley had been given an ultimatum this summer of signing a new contract or being sold but last week his manager claimed his future was no clearer.