Everton has announced the signing of James Rodriguez from Real Madrid.

The 29-year-old Colombian has signed a two-year deal with an option for a third season in a move that sees him link up with Carlo Ancelotti for the third time. Rodriguez have earlier played under him at Bayern Munich and Real.

Ancelotti signed the player originally from from Monaco as Real manager in 2014, but the former World Cup Golden Boot winner failed to truly establish himself in the Spanish capital, before going on a two-season loan to Bayern in 2017, by which point Ancelotti was in charge of the German side.

With a year remaining on his Real contract, James was deemed surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu by Zinedine Zidane.

At the signing event, Rodriguez said: “I am really, really happy to be at this great club, a club with so much history, and here with a manager who knows me really well.

“I’m looking forward to achieving great things here – and winning things, which is what everyone’s aim is.

“I’ve come here to try to improve, to get better. I’ve also come here to help the team to win, to play good football – entertaining football.

“I’m convinced, with Carlo and his technical staff, we can achieve big things and one of the big reasons… was the presence of Carlo Ancelotti.”