New Everton signing Wayne Rooney has said that he is "ecstatic" to return to his boyhood club 13 years after leaving for Manchester United.
The 31-year-old completed his switch back to Goodison Park earlier today having won every trophy there is to win at Old Trafford, including five Premier League titles, the FA Cup, three League Cups, the Champions League and the Europa League.
Rooney - who joined Everton as a nine-year-old before bursting onto the scene at the age of just 16 in 2002 - has now set his sights on helping the Toffees to silverware too, claiming that would be the "pinnacle" of his career.
"[Winning trophies with Everton] would be the pinnacle. I really feel now the club is moving in the right direction, bringing the right calibre of players in. I want to be part of it and hopefully part of a successful Everton team," he told the club's official website.
"It's a great feeling to be back. I'm excited, I cannot wait to meet the lads, get on the training pitch and then get on the pitch to play. I'm ecstatic – I just cannot wait to get back playing. I'm excited, and I'm excited by the signings that the club have made. This club is moving forward. This football club should be winning trophies and we're taking huge steps to being involved and trying to win trophies.
"The first game back will be an emotional day for me and I'm looking forward to it. I'm not just coming back because it's the team I support, the team I grew up playing for - I'm coming back because I feel the club can move forward and be successful. I want to be part of it. There will be pressure on me to perform, but I'm ready to go. I believe I can help move this club forward and be more successful on the pitch.
"With the new stadium in the pipeline, it's an exciting time to be an Everton player, to be an Everton fan. It's on us players to make those times even more exciting by giving them good performances and try to help them be successful and bring trophies to the club."
Rooney leaves Old Trafford as Manchester United's leading all-time scorer, having registered 253 goals in 559 appearances.
Barney Corkhill
