Charlton boss Robinson makes massive claim about Lookman, Everton fans will be thrilled

Thu 5 January 2017 14:20, UK

By Alex Stevens

Charlton manager Karl Robinson has hailed new Everton signing Ademola Lookman as an “incredible talent”.

The Addicks boss also described the winger, 19, as “a joy to work with” during his time in charge of the League One club.

Robinson paid tribute to Lookman after it was announced on Thursday afternoon that he had joined Everton from Charlton for a fee that is variously reported as costing between £7.5million and £11million.

The official Everton website confirmed that Lookman had signed on a four-and-a-half year contract until July 2021 but did not reveal the cost of the transfer.

? | Here’s the full story on @alookman_‘s move to #EFC. #WelcomeAdemola https://t.co/Nc1PYpfjcD pic.twitter.com/qQpDAc36Fw
— Everton (@Everton) January 5, 2017

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“Ademola is an incredible talent and has been a joy to work with during my short stint at the club,” Robinson told the Charlton website. “After a rapid rise through our academy system, he has been on the radar of Premier League clubs for some time.

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“The club rejected a substantial bid for him in the summer and to Ademola’s great credit, he really knuckled down and underlined his potential.”

Everton fans will be salivating at the prospect of seeing Lookman at first hand, while also appreciating Robinson’s comments about his attitude.

The Charlton academy product has been one of the outstanding players in the English lower leagues this season with his performances on the left wing.

He has has scored seven goals and supplied two assists from 25 matches for the third tier club, including five goals in League One encounters.

In total, Lookman made 49 appearances for the Addicks in all first team competitions, scoring 12 goals. During his time at the club, he won the LFE Apprentice of the Year for the Championship at the 2016 Football League Awards and was voted by supporters as their Young Player of the Year for 2015/16.

The England Under-20 international becomes the first January signing of Ronald Koeman, who reiterated on Thursday afternoon that he is keen to make significant improvements to his squad during the mid-season window.

Football Insider verdict:

Everton clearly mean business in the January window as they begin the process of strengthening a squad that requires considerable refurbishment. Lookman might not be the big name that Evertonians crave, or be regarded as a major statement of intent, but the influence of recently appointed director of football Steve Walsh is written all over this deal. Lookman has caught the eye of many of the elite clubs, but Walsh and his recruitment team have landed a player who Everton are confident can make a major impact in the years to come. He has made a huge impact since breaking into the Charlton first team and, while the Premier League is a big step up from League One, he has the raw materials to be a glowing success if he is well managed and keeps his feet on the ground.

In other Everton transfer news, a midfielder has signed after the Merseysiders settled terms.