Everton

JOHNSON COMPLETES FULHAM SWITCH

JOHNSON COMPLETES FULHAM SWITCH

Johnson - Fulham recruit.

Andrew Johnson has completed his transfer from Everton to Fulham for an undisclosed fee.

Johnson had been linked with a move to Craven Cottage for much of the summer but the deal appeared to hit problems.

The clubs then came to an agreement on a fee, with 27-year-old Johnson signing a four-year contract.

And Johnson is determined to prove himself a star signing for manager Roy Hodgson after becoming Fulham's first £10million-plus buy since Steve Marlet.

The Frenchman was an £11.5million recruit from Lyon in 2001 but proved an expensive failure for Fulham, however Johnson has a proven track record in the Barclays Premier League.

His move was held up as Fulham sought assurances about an old ankle injury, and Johnson was quick to thank Hodgson for showing persistence after a deal was struck which will see the London club pay around £10million initially, with more to come depending on performance.

"I am glad that the agreement is now finalised and that I can concentrate on playing football for Fulham," Johnson told his new club's official website.

"Roy has been great during the ongoing discussions and his support in getting me here has only strengthened my ambition to give 100% for him and the team every game.

"Fulham is a club with a lot of history and ambition and I'm pleased that I can be part of that."

Johnson returns to London two years after leaving Crystal Palace to join Everton in an £8.6million deal.

Johnson made 73 appearances and scored 22 goals during his stint on Merseyside but found himself edged out of David Moyes' first-choice starting XI after the arrival of Aiyegbeni Yakubu from Middlesbrough last summer.

Hodgson has no doubts about the quality of his latest buy.

"I have made no secret of my wish to add Andy Johnson to my squad at Fulham," said Hodgson.

"I believe that he has all the qualities needed to assist us in next season's campaign and I am more than delighted that we have secured his services for the long term.

"There has been a lot of speculation regarding this transfer during the last week, very little of which has had any foundation.

"I am just happy to be able to focus on the positive news that Andy Johnson is now a Fulham player, one who we have great hopes for, and I am grateful to the chairman, the board of directors and the chief executive for working tirelessly to make this possible."