Toffees swoop for Silva

Everton have signed striker Joao Silva on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee from Portuguese club Desportivo Das Aves.

Officials from the Barclays Premier League club flew to Portugal this week to conclude the transfer of the 20-year-old, who has represented his country at Under-20 level and is highly rated in his homeland.

Silva will now move to Merseyside before linking up with David Moyes’ squad at the start of July for their pre-season tour of Australia.

The 6ft 2in forward was the second top scorer in Portugal’s second tier, the Liga Vitalis, with 14 goals in 32 appearances last season – his first since