Everton have secured the signing of 27-year-old defender Cuco Martina on a free transfer, it was announced on Monday evening.
The Toffees confirmed via their official Twitter account, as well as their official website, that they had tied down the right-back to a three-year deal after his contract at fellow Premier League side Southampton expired.
?? | Welcome to Everton, Cuco Martina! ?https://t.co/DQGtigws9q pic.twitter.com/lrnhlU9kvX
— Everton (@Everton) July 17, 2017
The defender had been with the Saints for two years, having signed from Dutch side FC Twente in the summer of 2015.
He went on to make 36 appearances across all competitions for the club, scoring one spectacular goal which came against Arsenal back on Boxing Day, 2015.
Last season saw him struggle for first team action at the south coast club, making just 18 appearances across all competitions.
Only nine of those came in the top flight, six being starts, and he has he failed to make a Premier League appearance since the turn of the year, with his last league outing coming in a 2-1 defeat on New Year’s Eve, 2016.
However, his lack of action for the Saints has not put Ronald Koeman off snapping up his former player, with Martina having played for a year under the Dutch manager at Southampton.
He is also a Curacao international, having made 37 appearances for his country since his debut back in 2011, but yet to find the back of the net.
His arrival is the seventh new signing for Everton this summer, joining Jordan Pickford, Wayne Rooney, Davy Klaassen, Sandro Ramirez, Michael Keane at Goodison Park, while Henry Onyekuru signed for the club before being immediately loaned to Anderlecht.