Everton sign 23-year-old Merlin Rohl on loan with obligation to buy

Everton completed a late deadline-day move to bolster David Moyes's midfield by signing 23-year-old Merlin Rohl from Freiburg on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy next summer, the club confirmed on Tuesday. Rohl arrived in Liverpool to undergo a medical before the transfer was finalised, joining a squad that has been significantly reworked this summer.

Moyes said he was pleased to bring Rohl to Everton, calling him an exciting prospect who will add different qualities to the club's midfield. Rohl, a Germany Under21 international, described himself as a box-to-box midfielder and said he believed his style would suit the Premier League and appeal to Everton supporters. Reports around the deal varied in preliminary coverage, with early figures ranging between roughly 17 million and 23 million pounds, but the final agreement is understood to include an obligation to purchase for about 21 million pounds next summer.

The move addresses a clear priority for Everton. The club had pursued West Ham's Tomas Soucek earlier in the window but were rebuffed, and midfield reinforcements were needed after Abdoulaye Doucouré left in the close season and with Idrissa Gueye due to miss...