Everton sign Colombia's Rodriguez from Real Madrid

LONDON - Everton have confirmed the signing of Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez from Real Madrid for 20 million pounds (26 million US dollars).

Rodriguez, 29, has signed a two-year deal and joins head coach Carlo Ancelotti for the third time, after having played under the Italian at Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

"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," Rodriguez told Everton's website.

Rodriguez moved to Madrid from French side AS Monaco in 2014 after claiming the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot with his six goals at that year's competition in Brazil. He also spent two years on loan to German giants Bayern Munich from 2017 to 2019.

"James, as everyone knows, is a fantastic player with a lot of quality and a lot of ability to make assists for the strikers," Ancelotti said of his new signing.

Ancelotti, 61, signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with Everton last December after having been sacked by Italian Serie A side Napoli earlier that month. He led Everton to finish 12th in the Premier League last season.