Everton have confirmed the departure of Nigeria forward Henry Onyekuru, who has signed a five-year contract with AS Monaco having never played a game for the Blues.
The club’s announcement has seen Toffees supporters rally on social media, with members of the Goodison Park faithful sharing their regret in never seeing the 5 ft 7 winger take to the field on Merseyside due to issues obtaining a UK work permit.
Other supporters have suggested that Onyekuru was the most pointless transfer the club has made in recent years, as we spent a reported £7million to sign a then 19-year-old from KAS Eupen in 2017, before he had even made a senior international appearance for the Super Eagles.
The obstacles that have blighted our efforts to obtain permission for the attacker to play in the Premier League meant he joined RSC Anderlecht and Galatasaray for season-long loan spells, before leaving for Monaco for a reported £12million.
In the two years that followed his capture, Onyekuru would have needed to feature in 75% of Nigeria’s fixtures to be able to obtain a permit to play in the Premier League this season, but come the end of this summer’s Africa Cup of Nations and the Onitsha-born forward has eleven caps to his name from a possible 30.
Here’s how these fans reacted to Onyekuru’s departure…
Good luck, shame we didn’t get to see him playing at Goodison.
— Sean Cartwright (@SeanCartwright6) August 12, 2019
Pumped for when he signs for Arsenal in 2 years and dicks us
— Sam (@evertalks) August 12, 2019
I think he’s better than iwobi as a winger
— Don-Andoni???? (@Andoni_cuIe) August 12, 2019
Most Everton transfer ever this
— ???????? (@pauldraaps) August 12, 2019
The most pointless signing, ever
— Joe Ainscough (@JAinscough7) August 12, 2019
Watch one of the Sky 6 buy him next summer and he’ll get a work permit no problem.
— teadrinker68 (@teadrinker68) August 12, 2019
Best of luck, Shame we couldn’t sort out a work permit
— Simon Joseph Villiers (@simonjv91) August 12, 2019
Can’t remember him putting in a single good performance. Good riddance
— ???????? (@FinKitch) August 12, 2019
Such a shame really. He has so much potential
— Adam ⚠️ (@adxmEFC) August 12, 2019
I would have liked to see him play in Blue. Just Once.
— D (@FatWeightlifter) August 12, 2019
Must be only player eligible for testimonial without playing for us ????
— Jim Cannon (@EvilMonkey1701) August 12, 2019
Everton legend. Never forget some of the classic matches he’s played in
— ????Owen (@efcdoyley) August 12, 2019