Everton sign Spanish Star

By European Football
January 31 2005

Everton have signed Real Sociedad’s Mikel Arteta on loan until the end of the season, with a view to a permanent move should he impress. They see him as a replacement for Thomas Gravesen and hope that he can fill the void left by Gravesen, who joined Real Madrid earlier in the month.

Mikel Arteta had become a peripheral figure at Real Sociedad and should jump at the chance of regular first team football. Everton’s chief executive, Keith Wyness stated:

''We are all delighted that Mikel has agreed to join us and this is a real coup for Everton as a number of clubs were interested.''