Everton inks Howard to five-year deal

Feb 14, 2007, 22:53 GMT

Merceyside, England - Everton announced on Wednesday that the club has come to terms with on-loan keeper Tim Howard on a five-year deal from Manchester United. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Howard joined Everton on loan at the beginning of the season from the Red Devils because his role at Old Trafford was very much in question.

'The club share my ambition, that is for sure - the manager does and so do the fans,' Howard told evertonTV. 'I was drawn to the club for a number of reasons and the players in the dressing room are one of them.'

Howard has played quite well for the Toffees, making 27 appearances for the club with 11 clean sheets. This form prompted United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to consider bringing the American netminder back to United, but with English keeper Ben Foster and Polish backstop Tomasz Kuszczak already on the team, Ferguson decided to let Howard go.

The deal will start at the beginning of next season and run through the 2012 campaign. The current loan agreement will run through the remainder of the season.

Manchester United originally acquired Howard from Major League Soccer's New York/New Jersey Metrostars in July 2003, and Howard made 77 appearances for the club.

'We are delighted to have Tim Howard,' Everton manager David Moyes told the club's website. 'He has come in this season and proved he is a good keeper and we are pleased to have secured him.'

Howard is also becoming a big part of the United States National Team, earning 16 international caps, including a 2-0 win over Mexico last week.

© 2007 The Sports Network