On transfer deadline day Everton announced a signing which has been in the works for a good few weeks.
Salomon Rondon was announced on a two-year-deal, with an option for a third, as a free transfer from Chinese club Dalian Professional with a few hours of the window left.
However, the deal had been done for some time before that and realistically was one of the most predictable transfers of the window due to the history Rondon and Rafa Benitez have.
The pair worked with each other at Newcastle United and then when Benitez left the club to go to China, he brought Rondon, 31, with him.
Under Benitez’s management Rondon has scored 26 and assisted 14 in 61 appearances so therefore he will be a more than adequate backup for Dominic Calvert-Lewin this season.
The Venezuelan international has expressed his delight about signing for the club as he said: “Defending the colours of a club with a history as rich as Everton’s fills me with pride.
“I can’t wait to pull on the shirt and be reunited with Rafa Benítez, a coach who has changed the way I understand the game. I’m really grateful for the faith he’s shown in me.”
Moise Kean leaving the club on a two-year-loan back to Juventus was a big reason why the deal to reunite Rondon and Benitez could go through.
Getting Moise Kean to leave the club was beginning to become a bit of a bigger problem than many first anticipated however with Juventus selling Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United they needed a frontman to replace him, and Kean was the one they wanted to many Everton fans surprise.
There realistically should have been another couple of deals for Everton but deals for Luis Diaz from Porto and Nathan Patterson from Rangers could not be concluded meaning that Rondon was the only incoming to be completed on deadline day.
The fact that the deal for Luis Diaz fell through also meant that James Rodriguez is still at the club as he was supposed to go the other way to Porto on a season loan.
Whether he will still be at Everton for the season is still questionable though as the Russian, Portuguese and Turkish transfer windows are still open so a deal could yet be agreed.
As well as all this drama left-back Niels Nkounkou joined Belgium club Standard Liege on a season-long-loan.
So Rafa Benitez has his squad for the season, until January at least, he has already started well so we now wait and see whether after the international break the good form will continue with or without James Rodriguez.
