Deulofeu: Barca experience will help me at Everton

Everton new boy Gerard Deulofeu says training with Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta at Barcelona will help him in the Premier League.

The 19-year-old made the switch to Goodison Park on Wednesday as part of a season-long loan from parent club Barca, marking new manager Roberto Martinez’s fourth signing of the close-season.

Everton are thought to have held off plenty of competition for the young forward, and Deulofeu, who scored 18 goals for Barcelona’s B team last term, is eager to impress.

He believes the experience of pitting himself against some of the world’s greatest players on a regular basis at the Camp Nou can only be a good thing as he adjusts to life in England.

“Obviously training at Barcelona is a fantastic experience,” he told the club’s official website.

“You train alongside players like Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta who are clearly some of the best players in the world. To learn from them is a very nice experience.

“I’m very keen to get started and I’m delighted to be at such a big and historic football club. I really can’t wait to get started.”

The Spaniard, who has also represented his country at all levels from Under-16 to Under-21, is keen to make an impact on the English top flight.

“I’m an attacking player and I can play wide,” he added.

“I’m quite quick, quite decent at one-on-one situations and I’m looking forward very much to helping the team.”