Everton complete signing of Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes

Everton have concluded the signing of Barcelona central midfielder Andre Gomes on a season-long loan.

Having fallen out of favour at Barcelona after a frustrating campaign last season, the 25-year old was expected to be moving this window, and Everton and the English Premier League have proved to be his next destination.

In what was a fast-paced transfer, Gomes underwent his medical earlier today in Barcelona in a bid to force through the deal before the imminent transfer deadline was reached.

It sees the Portuguese central midfielder link up with his compatriot Marco Silva, who was appointed manager of the Merseyside club earlier this season.

While not making the Portugal squad for the World Cup last month, Andre Gomes did play a part in Portugal's Euro 2016 campaign, a tournament in which Portugal ultimately emerged victorious.

Everton will be seen as a perfect destination for the former Benfica and Valencia midfielder, who is believed to be relishing the chance to revitalise his career at Everton and is excited for the challenge ahead.

With his arrival, there is now a total of fifteen Portuguese players in England's top flight, a substantial rise from last season, where only 9 senior Portuguese players were involved in the English Premier League, including Eduardo, Domingos Quina and Joel Pereira, who all failed to make a single league appearance in the entire campaign.

The rise in the number of Portuguese players plying their trade in England continues an emerging trend, with just six Portuguese players registered with an English Premier League club the two seasons before that.

Along with Andre Gomes, Everton also sign Colombian centreback Yerry Mina.