MY ACCOUNT
Ruben Vinagre is relishing the chance to work under “football legend” Frank Lampard and coach Ashley Cole at Everton after completing a season-long loan move from Sporting CP.
The 23-year-old, who previously spent two full seasons in the Premier League with Wolves, becomes Everton’s second signing of the window following the arrival of James Tarkowski.
Vinagre only joined Sporting on a permanent basis earlier this month, but the loan agreement between the Portuguese club and Everton is reported to contain an option for the Toffees to purchase the defender outright next year.
He can operate as a left-back or left wing-back and will provide competition for Vitalii Mykolenko this coming campaign, with Niels Nkounkou another option in that position for Lampard.
Everton confirmed the loan signing on their official website on Wednesday, and the former Portugal Under-21 international – who is in line to make his debut in Friday’s friendly against Dynamo Kyiv – is eager to get going.
“It’s a dream come true to join a big club like Everton,” he told Everton TV. “The opportunity to work with very good players and a very good coach in Frank Lampard made me excited to sign.
“The manager is a football legend. Everybody knows him and the opportunity to work with and learn from him and someone like Ashley Cole – one of football’s best left-backs – is very big for me.
“Kevin [Thelwell, director of football] was important, too, because he knows me very well from when we worked together at Wolves.
“He explained to me about Everton’s proud history and the qualities you need here because it’s a very big club and you have to give everything for the supporters.”
Vinagre featured 18 times during his time on loan with Sporting last season and did not taste defeat in any of his domestic league or cup appearances.
As well as making 69 appearances for Wolves in all competitions, the full-back has also previously played for Monaco, Olympiacos and Famalicao.
