England forward Toni Duggan has rejoined Everton after an eight-year absence, signing a two-year deal that will keep her at the club until the end of June 2023.
The 29-year-old left Merseyside for Manchester City at the end of 2013 and spent three years in Manchester where she won the League Cup twice, the FA Cup and a first WSL title in 2016.
After City Duggan moved to Spain, leading the line for Barcelona for two years before moving to Atlético Madrid. With Barça she reached a first Champions League final and won the Copa de la Reina and Copa Catalunya. At Atléti she won the Supercopa.
“It feels so good to be back home,” Duggan told the Everton website. “This is the club I started out at when I was younger. It’s so important for the club, the team, the manager [to get Everton back in the Champions League]. It’s everyone’s objective.
“When I met with Everton, they stated they wanted Champions League football. For me personally, I’ve played Champions League football right throughout my career. I’ve always been part of it and it’s the pinnacle of a player’s career. I want that. I’m ambitious about it. It would be a dream come true if I can get Everton back in.”
The Everton manager, Willie Kirk, said: “It’s an exciting signing for us. Toni is a big personality, a big-game player. She has accumulated a lot of valuable experience since leaving Everton in 2013.
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“Having played for three of the biggest clubs across Europe with Manchester City, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, she will put that experience to good use with us. I’m excited to get her on the pitch and back in an Everton jersey.”