Payne relishes UK opportunity with Everton

Nigeria Super Falcons midfielder Toni Payne is delighted at her transfer to Everton, a few days after severing ties with Sevilla, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Speaking after her unveiling at Goodison Park on Friday, the 29-year-old, who can also effectively play as a striker, said the move is a fulfilment of her dream to play in the United Kingdom.

“I’m super excited to be an Everton player. It’s been my dream to play in the UK and in such a strong league like the WSL,” Payne told Everton TV.

She continued, “I’m excited to have the opportunity to play at a club like Everton with so much history in football.

“Now was the right moment for me to look for another challenge to push myself.

“It’s going to be different and new, and I’m really happy about my decision. I’m impressed with how the league is investing in teams and the league itself,” she continued.

“I see such rapid growth, and it’s something that I’m really excited and eager to be a part of.

“You can see just how much the players are growing here at Everton.

“I think this is going to be a great fit for me because that’s what I want. I want to grow and improve, and this is the perfect place for me to achieve that.

“I’m impressed with the way we play. I think it fits my style and how I want to play. I cannot wait to get started.”

On his first signing of the transfer window, the team’s head coach, Brian Sørensen, told evertonfc.com: “I’m extremely happy to bring Toni to the club.

“She is exactly the type of player we need. I’m 100 percent confident Toni can fit right into our team and into this league because she has a wealth of experience, not only from Spain but also for the Nigeria national team.

“She can play multiple positions and is an intelligent player who is really fast. She is a player without any injury history, too, so we are confident she will be a big success for us.

“The way we play, it’s very dynamic. We don’t operate with a typical front three; it’s more about filling the right spaces and having the ability to create opportunities. That’s where she will fit in very well.

“Toni can play across the front line and in behind, but she can also do combination play and drop into midfield.

“All of these qualities make her a great asset, and she will be an important player for us.”

Payne, who can play across the front line, joins the club after a six-year spell in Spain with Sevilla and is the first signing of the summer for Brian Sorensen’s side.

She has 21 caps for Nigeria and was part of the Super Falcons squad that competed at the 2023 World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand, where they were narrowly beaten by England in the last 16.

She is a key member of the team for the women’s football tournament of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, where they will face Brazil, Spain, and Japan in Group C.