Everton agree Lescott fee

Man City have bid of around £24m accepted by Toffees

By James Dall   Last updated: 24th August 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Everton agree Lescott fee

Lescott: Set for City

David Moyes has revealed there was a noticeable change in the player's attitude and as a result decided that it is in the best interests of the Club if he allowed Lescott to leave.

Everton
Quotes of the week

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Everton have agreed a fee of around £24million with Manchester City for Joleon Lescott, with a switch expected to be completed on Monday.

Cash-rich side City have already seen two offers for the England international rejected by their Premier League rivals.

Toffees boss David Moyes appeared defiant that Lescott would remain at Goodison Park, despite the defender recently handing in a written transfer request.

However, Lescott was not included in Everton's squad for their previous two matches, increasing speculation that a move could be in the offing.

A statement on City's official website said: "Manchester City can confirm that agreement has been reached with Everton for the transfer of Joleon Lescott.

Attitude

"The move is subject to the player agreeing personal terms and passing a medical."

Everton added: "Moyes has revealed there was a noticeable change in the player's attitude and as a result decided that it is in the best interests of the Club if he allowed Lescott to leave.

"Chairman Bill Kenwright has worked tirelessly to get the best deal for Everton, achieving a substantial increase on Manchester City's initial offer.

"Lescott will now meet with Manchester City and will sign subject to him successfully negotiating personal terms and passing a medical."

Eastlands stars

Lescott signed on Merseyside from Wolves for a fee of £5million in 2006 and has since made 113 Premier League appearances for the club, scoring 14 goals.

The versatile stopper's solitary appearance this campaign came when Everton lost 6-1 to Arsenal on the opening day of the season.

City boss Mark Hughes has made no secret of his wish to further bolster his defensive ranks, having already brought in Kolo Toure from the Gunners.

Lescott now looks poised to join the likes of Toure, Roque Santa Cruz, Gareth Barry, Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor in signing at Eastlands this summer.

Comments (82)

Chris Hickey (Manchester United fan) says...

Lescott is a good player, I can see why City have bought him. But there is NO WAY he is worth 24M! I can think of many players in the premier league who are better in his position.

Posted 13:37 26th August 2009

Neil Steadman (Everton fan) says...

Cant blame Lescott for wanting more money dissapointed he never thanked Everton ,David Moyes and the fans for the last few seasons unlike Silvinhio who stressed that point at the press conference thanking Barcelona for the last 5 years,enough said ,hopes he addresses that fairly soon because its the fans who make or break you be it Everton or City

Posted 12:47 26th August 2009

Danny Anderson (Newcastle United fan) says...

It is a sad indictment of the modern day footballer that the only real interest to them is money. The truth is there is no true allegiance to ANY football club whatsoever. I must say I understand the frustration of Everton supporters at the loss of Lescott. But being realistic, getting 24 million pound for a centre half, who isnt even an international regular, is mighty fine business. I like the way Moyes dealt with the saga and managed to drain another few million out of the deal (not that the City owner would have been bothered!). He has kept his and Everton's dignity in tact, unlike Mark Hughes & co. As for Man City, here come Chelsea mark 2. Of course, I am sure most clubs would love to be in their situation - but, as with Chelsea, I cant help feeling a tinge of 'I hope you fall flat on your face'.

Posted 12:23 26th August 2009

David Denby (Everton fan) says...

Just seen Lescott's press conference and just want to say good ridance. I don't begrudge him his big money move but the lack of class is overwhelming. We were the only ones who took a gamble on him from Wolves. Were was the thanks to the club for giving him his chance and help to make him into an international? Fair enough his move didn't go as smooth as he would have liked but to not even say thanks is poor. Him and Hughes deserve eachother, not a clue of the true tradditions of fair play between them.

Posted 11:41 26th August 2009

Bob Wilco (Leeds United fan) says...

Poaching players???? Moyes needs to look at himself before declaring people are poaching. who was it a month or so back that poached luke garbutt from leeds utd academy with over inflated wages? pot calling kettle black comes to mind.

Posted 10:22 26th August 2009

Zigzaya Prentiss (Arsenal fan) says...

Well done Lescott for leaving a club which were willing to listen to offers for you for the greed of a dollar. Your guv D.M says you have the attitude but if the the chairmen from the start said no matter what your not for sale , you would still be there. So because the chairmen & board were greedy it dragged and dragged until there was no turning back....Goodluck Man city , come join the title battle.

Posted 22:02 25th August 2009

Claire Ryder says...

Joleon Lescott is a complete disgrace. It was Everton and David Moyes who made him the player he is today and even as a Liverpool fan i can say he has knived him and the fans in the back. Moyes built him up from the average Wolves player in 2006. I hope that when he comes to giving his reasons he has the bottle to admit the real reason why he handed in a transfer request, instead of "I did it for a challenge."Pure greed.

Posted 19:51 25th August 2009

Shawn Holder (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

The player has certainly gone down in my estimation, we all expect city to pay over the top prices nowadays for players (and im a tottenham fan remember) but at the end of the day as soon as a player wants a move,contracts mean absolutely nothing, i remember Berbatov a couple of seasons ago at spurs when he was whingeing like a baby and 'craving' a move to UTD, and i cannot stand him either!!! Boo to Lescott!! Well done to David Moyes by getting a brilliant price for an average at best player.

Posted 10:06 25th August 2009

Gaz J. (Manchester United fan) says...

At least Man City are being realistic and targeting the top 4 places as oppose to Chelsea who want to buy every trophy and continuosly sack manager after manager. City at least are still working to a long term plan, they will make the top 4 this season. Lescott - well clubs like Everton are always going to lose their star players, just like Rooney, Everton had no choice, cruel side of football, In a couple of years another club will take Jagielka off their hands. Everton have done well to get 5th with no money and i think every sober Everton fan know they will never do any better than that, and have a right to be annoyed with Man City not only have the stole their best defender, they have pushed Everton down to 'at best' 6th place. But at the end of the season if City mess up Everton can take heart and say they didn't need over £100m to get 5th place.

Posted 08:55 25th August 2009

David L (Manchester City fan) says...

Loving the responses from some of the Everton Fans. You've just been given £24million pounds for a £15million (max) player. As a City supporter I realise we will have to pay over the odds for players, and I also realise the hurt it can cause when losing your best player, we know, it wasn't too long ago we sold Shaun Wright Phillips to Chelsea. However, you must also relalise Everton have been there, or there abouts the 'Top 4' for the past few years, which has widely been acknowledged as a tremendous achievement by others surrounding the premier league. But its been shown by the leading teams, to sustain Top 4 positions, you need to spend. And the order of the food chain doesn't nessecarily follow the positions from the previous season, but rather the spending power. Naturally City will be towards the top, whereas Everton are not. Love it or hate it- thats the case! City have been 'the peoples club' for decades, but look where that got us. Now the new owners aim to keep that reputation- to our clubs fans at least, whilst competing for silverware. I wish any team who targets to challenge the top 4 the best of luck, and understand Evertons frustrations. But money isn't going to ruin the game, it can only improve it- especially if there are more than 4 teams who are capable of being champions of the best league in the World!!! Ideally, that team will be City. :-)

Posted 00:42 25th August 2009

James Gabbitas (Everton fan) says...

Lescott's departure will be a godsend. Not because he's not good purely so that this whole debacle can finish and we can concentrate on actually getiing some damnn points on the board. I've always been quite keen on Man City but not on Mark Hughes, dirty player and I see no changes now that he is a manager. Jealous of City's cash ? Hell yes I am, I don't understand why these billionaire benefactor's are not attracted to the club that has been consistantly the best performers in the League over last few years other than the establiched big 4, rather than never really been that succesful teams like Manchester City. Please send us an Oil sheik benefactor ASAP we have one of the the top 3 managers in the league already and probably the most dedicated Chairman too. We really need to address the team spirit urgently and get the Lescott thing wrapped up so we can achieve something this season. Good Luck to Man city and thanks for the hefty price tag. C'mon Everton!

Posted 23:20 24th August 2009

Christine Tyler (Everton fan) says...

Why do players sign contracts?? they are not worth anything, not that long ago if a player signed on the dotted line, you knew that meant the player would be with the team for that lengh of time!!!! not anymore! why bother having them if they don't intend to honour the contract!!!!! and if they want to get out of it they should have to pay a very heavy financial penly, how about twice what it is worth.

Posted 22:38 24th August 2009

Mark Bladen (Manchester City fan) says...

United paid £30m for Ferdinand years ago and Lescott is massively over priced. Please. Couple of points that some football fans have failed to realise about this transfer. 1. This has been the most highly inflated transfer window ever. Granted City have played there part, but Real set the pace for everybody else. 2. City will pay 15% over market value for any player because of there financial position. 3. The EPL season has kicked off, clubs do not want to let players go for fear of no time for new aquisitions. 4. Lescott is top premiership defender with his best years still infront of him. So the point i'm trying to make is 1. If this was done last summer before the inflated prices this would have been more like 18m. 2. 18,000,000 / 100 x 85 = 15,300,000. 3. Yes I know, I know it should have been done earlier BUT if it was done in the first week - £2.3m for timing. 4. Lescott is a top class EPL quality centre half, with his best years in front of him and if the situation COULD have been different, the price could have beem as little as £13m. Thats a snip! May have an attitude, but I bet he'll turn up for his drug tests!

Posted 22:34 24th August 2009

Doreen O'donnell (Everton fan) says...

May I just remind all who was Manager of the Year - yes his name is David Moyes. I have all faith in David to progress us through the season & was unhappy at the disrespect shown to him by both City & Lescott.

Posted 22:21 24th August 2009

Ben Clasper (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Lescott is a good player, nothing more than that.. I guess the days when ¿24m was only spent only on outstanding players are long gone!!

Posted 21:15 24th August 2009

Eddy Waterworth (Everton fan) says...

Whats funny is Hughes thinks he will still be in a job at Christmas ! He will be managing a championship club at best more of his level

Posted 14:38 24th August 2009

Derek Waine (Manchester City fan) says...

Before critisising City over their pursuit of other clubs players, Everton fans should ask themselves the question, "what would they do in City's situation"? Everton should uderstand our situation more than most having, like City, lived in the shadows of the more successful Liverpool / United in recent times. Obviously we dont want to be hated, but given the choice of success or popularity then there is no contest. Everton fans would feel exactly the same way i am sure. So, you should congratulate Bill Kenwright for negotiating a very good deal and take the inflated price for Lescott and go and find a couple of replacements. Just don't pretend your club would have done anything differently if you were in our shoes.

Posted 14:24 24th August 2009

Tony Dom (Coventry City fan) says...

Being a fan of a team in the championship, i find the fee for Lescott to be outrageous, a commodity is only worth what a club is willing to pay. Dont blame Lescot, Man City and Everton both wanted the best deal possible.

Posted 14:16 24th August 2009

Mike Gibbons (Everton fan) says...

Good ridance to Lescott - money grabbing mercenary.....!!! Man City Fans - your team are best described as 'a tramp who has found a winning lottery ticket in the gutter' ... No class no manners no nothing..... Get a grip you are nothing and will remain nothing - no amount of money will change that .....

Posted 14:10 24th August 2009

John Cawey (Manchester City fan) says...

Fantastic bit of business by City, what potential and only 2 better in league, Terry and Vidic(what price them). Can't understand Moyes though, he buys Lescott £5m cheap only because of a sell-on clause, he dithers for 2 months to sell £22m, he knows he has to pay Wolves £7m . That means Lescott cost Everton £12m to buy which leaves them with £10m profit. At this stage who could he buy for that amount and whoever he deal's with will act the same ackward way he has acted. He will lose that profit plus a lot more, Moyes has created a disaster at Everton.

Posted 13:54 24th August 2009

Add Comment*

Send us your views

Are you a Sky Sports subscriber?

*All fields required, your email address will be kept private