Heitinga changes mind and joins Everton

John Heitinga is Everton’s latest defensive recruit. The strong right back, also able to play centre back, is at the club’s training centre for the latest medical tests.

The last days there were reports that the defender of Atletico Madrid didn’t want to leave Spain but it seems that he changed his mind.

Everton pays € 8 million for the 25-year-old defender.

Last week Everton and Atletico already reached an agreement about the transfer fee for the Dutch international.

Heitinga wasn’t too keen about leaving Madrid after just one season, last week he mentioned that he wanted to fight for his chance in the Spanish capital.

In the summer of 2008 he left Ajax to join Los Colchoneros, who paid a fee of € 10 million for the versatile defender.

He felt the support of his coach at Atletico, Abel Resino, who awarded him with a place in his starting lineup for the season opener against Malaga (3-0 loss).

However, the second club of Madrid decided to opt for the millions of Everton instead of keeping Heitinga at the Vicente Calderon stadium.