Everton managed to get the loan transfer of Chelsea for forward Armando Broja under the wire before the transfer deadline closed but were unable to make further additions.

The Albanian, who comes to Goodison Park two years after Frank Lampard first tried to sign him, had looked destined to make a temporary move to Ipswich Town after the Tractor Boys revived their interest in his services but negotaitions broke down earlier in the day.

That allowed the Blues to step in and agree a season-long loan deal with a £30m option to purchase next summer and were able to submit a deal sheet before the 11pm deadline elapsed. Speculation that Dominic Calvert-Lewin might move in the opposite direction with the Londoners proposing a £10m offer came to nothing.

Under the terms of the deal, which involves no loan fee, Everton will only start paying Broja's wages once he recovers from an Achilles injury, which isn't expected to be until October. He also had a lengthy spell out with a ruptured anterior cruciate knee ligament sustained in December 2022, after which he joined Fulham on loan for a largely unproductive spell last season.

He was able to represent Albania at Euro 2024, however, before suffering his latest injury.

"Having monitored Armando's journey for a number of years, we're very pleased to have been able to bring him to the Club," said Everton's Director of Football, Kevin Thelwell.

"Armando is still a young player who has already built up some impressive experience but someone we also feel has lots more potential to be unlocked. 

"First and foremost, we will work with him to get him fit as soon as possible. Then, his addition will strengthen our options in the attacking department.”

Born in Slough, Broja was signed by Chelsea in 2020 and, coincidentally, made his senior debut against Everton before being farmed out to sibling club Vitesse in the Netherlands for a season where he scored 11 goals in 38 appearances.

He spent the next season in the Premier League at Southampton where he really came to prominence as a powerful, pacy forward and notched another nine goals in 34 games.

Brought into the first-team fold at Stamford Bridge for the 2022-23 season, he struggled to make an impact in a more talented squad making 18 appearances in all competitions and scoring just once before his ACL injury, suffered during a friendly against Aston Villa arranged during the hiatus for the Qatar World Cup, wrecked his hopes of making further progress.

Once he had regained fitness, it was hoped he would be able to refind his form at Craven Cottage but in eight games he failed to find the net. His move to Goodison Park offers him another chance to reignite his career once his latest injury problems are behind him.

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