Everton announced the signing of Francis Okoronkwo from Sunderland on Monday, and a number of Toffees supporters were quick to share their reactions to the transfer on social media.
Okoronkwo, who recently turned 17, has signed a three-year deal at Goodison Park and will initially link up with the club's under-18s. The teenager is primarily a left winger but is capable of operating anywhere across the front line.
He scored and provided an assist for Sunderland’s under-18s against Everton back in May, and the move has reportedly cost the Toffees £1m. That fee was agreed earlier in the summer, although a transfer has only now been announced by the club following his 17th birthday.
Insiders at Finch Farm have likened the transfer to Dominic Calvert Lewin’s switch from Sheffield United to Everton back in 2016.
Everton fans react
The news of Okoronkwo’s Merseyside move quickly made its way across social media on Monday afternoon.
Here is what some Everton fans had to say in reply to confirmation of the transfer on Twitter, with one dubbing him a potential successor to James Rodriguez as the out-of-favour Colombian is strongly linked with a move to Qatar…
“James replacement?”
“We need to do this more often, should go in for Kimpioka who we were linked with as well. And Jebbison”
“So we do have money”
“Hopefully another one of Marcel's gems”
“Clearly a pathway for young forwards at the club, now more than ever”
“Well I remember the last striker we signed for a million quid”
In other news: Many Everton fans fume over this 'pathetic' update on Rodriguez.