Everton signs striker Neal Maupay from Brighton

Everton strengthened its flagging attack by signing Neal Maupay from English Premier League rival Brighton on Friday.

The French striker moved for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal and plugs the gap left by Brazil international Richarlison, who joined Tottenham in this transfer window.

Everton’s other main striker, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, is out injured and manager Frank Lampard has been playing without a recognized center forward this season.

Everton has two goals in three matches in the league. One was an own-goal.

Maupay, who joined Brighton from Brentford in 2019 and scored 26 goals in 102 games, lost his place up front at Brighton to Danny Welbeck.

one 📸 in four pic.twitter.com/G42aXgDKIu

— Everton (@Everton) August 27, 2022

The Blues faced a rush against time to get the 26-year-old signed before the Friday noon deadline that would see him eligible to be in the squad for tomorrow’s trip to his former side Brentford, but it looks like the paperwork was not completed on time and he will not be in the squad for the game.

Maupay is yet to play this season with him entering the last year of his contract at the Seagulls and the side preferring to sell him on. He had been strongly linked with a move to Nottingham Forest and in recent days Fulham led by former Blues boss Marco Silva had been interested with the player too.

The striker came to England in 2017-18 when the Bees were in the Championship, scoring 41 goals and 14 assists in his 95 games there across all competitions in two seasons.

Following his move to Brighton, he has features 102 times for Graham Potter’s side scoring 27 goals with 8 assists in 109 appearances as centre forward or second striker.