Mixed feelings as Theo Walcott leaves Arsenal to become Everton's second January signing

England winger joins Merseyside club for fee of £20 million, saying he is looking forward to reignite career

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 10: Theo Walcott of Arsenal during the Carabao Cup Semi-Final First Leg match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on January 10, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
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Everton signed England winger Theo Walcott from Arsenal in a deal worth a reported £25 million (Dh127m) on Wednesday.

Walcott had been out of favour with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger for much of this season and has opted to move to Goodison Park in a bid to kickstart his faltering career.

The 28-year-old international made just 16 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions this season and last started a Premier League game for the Gunners in April.

"There's something about this move I've just felt good about," Walcott said. "It felt like it was time for me to move on.

"It was sad but it's exciting at the same time and I want to reignite my career and push Everton to win things as they have done before.

"The manager is very hungry and it's just what I need. I've had a couple of chats with him and straightaway I felt that hunger and that desire that he wanted from me."

Walcott becomes Sam Allardyce's second signing of the January transfer window following the arrival of Besiktas striker Cenk Tosun.

Walcott had earlier in the day completed his medical and agreed personal terms.

Understood to have been at Everton's Finch Farm training ground on Tuesday, he has to become the club's second signing of the January transfer window.

Everton have already added to their attack this month by bringing in Turkey striker Cenk Tosun from Besiktas for a reported fee of £27m.

Walcott is surplus to requirements at Arsenal having made just 16 appearances in all competitions this season, including the Community Shield.

Only six of those appearances have been in the Premier League, and he last started a game in the division in April.

Walcott has scored 108 goals in 397 matches for Arsenal in total since joining them from Southampton in 2006.

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Tosun made his Everton debut at the weekend, playing an hour of the 4-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium.

Speaking last Friday, Everton manager Sam Allardyce said: "Theo's not as risky [as Tosun] because he's proven. He's scored 100 goals for Arsenal from wide positions as well as many assists.

"His pace is one of his key strengths which we lack in this squad. His assists are pretty good as well as his goals.

"We are short of goals so to add power in our goalscoring ability would be very important for me."