Steven Pienaar this afternoon put pen to paper on a 4-year deal which will keep him at Everton until 2016, when he will be 34 years-old. His salary, thought to be in the region of £55,000 per week or £2.86m per year, will cost Everton £11.5m over the lifetime of the contract. Spurs will receive a transfer fee of £4.5m. His scintillating performances in the second half of last term, in which he scored 4 times and was credited with 6 assists – more than any other player despite being cup-tied and appearing only fourteen times – were a key element in the team’s superb end of season run-in. The South African’s contribution included important goals in the 2-0 demolition of Chelsea at Goodison and in the title-defining 4-4 draw at Old Trafford. David Moyes had made it a priority to bring the wide-man back to Everton on a long term basis and a deal has finally been struck.

Pienaar told evertontv: “I am happy to be here. It took a few weeks to sort out but I am delighted to be back and excited to play for Everton. There was no doubt in my mind that I would be back here. At the end of the season I told the manager how I felt and I am happy now it is all done.”

With Pienaar making his desire to return to Goodison on a permanent basis crystal clear – not least in an emotional pitch-side interview following the last game of the season – the only impediment to his return appears to have been some drawn-out haggling over the fee between the two clubs.

Steven Pienaar will continue to wear the number 22 jersey.

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