Moyes completes Yobo deal

David Moyes has made his first signing for Everton by clinching the £5m (€7.8m) capture of Nigerian World Cup defender Joseph Yobo from Marseille - and intends to make Derby goalkeeper Mart Poom his second.

The deal for Yobo was finally completed late this afternoon when he put pen to paper on a 12-month contract, with an option for a further four years, after passing a medical on Merseyside.

Moyes sees Yobo’s signing as a major coup for Everton and the 21-year-old had been linked with a number of clubs across Europe, including Arsenal and Juventus.

Yobo will not be able to team up with Everton right away and he has returned to France pending the outcome of his work permit application.

Even though he does not quite meet the Department of Employment’s criteria, Everton are hopeful he will be granted a work permit because of his age and the fact that he played in all three of Nigeria’s World Cup games in Japan.

Everton are optimistic he will be able to join up with the squad during their mini pre-season tour of Austria, which begins on Thursday.

Everton spokesman Ian Ross said: ‘‘Joseph Yobo has agreed to join us on a 12-month contract.

‘‘We have made an application for a work permit. We expect to hear back in seven to 10 days and we are optimistic that we will be successful.

‘‘Joseph is David Moyes’ first signing since coming to the club and we see his signing as a major coup for the club because since the World Cup there had been interest in Joseph from all over Europe.

‘‘This is the news all Everton fans had been waiting to hear.’’

Now that Moyes has landed Yobo, he will step up his efforts to sign Poom.

Everton have so far failed with two bids to prise the Estonia international away from Pride Park.

Moyes is determined to get his man and it is thought an offer of around £4m (€6.2m) should be enough to persuade Derby to let Poom go.