Home Football Everton keeper Tim Howard agrees to Colorado Rapids move

Everton keeper Tim Howard agrees to Colorado Rapids move

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Tim Howard will depart Everton once his contract expires in the summer, after revealing that his has accepted an offer to join MLS side, Colorado Rapids, where he has agreed a three-year deal.

The American goalkeeper, who has spent 13 years on English shores – which included a decade at Goodison Park, will return to his homeland at the conclusion of the Premier League season, having recently held talks about his future with manager, Roberto Martinez.

Howard made over 300 appearances during a fruitful stay on Merseyside, but found opportunities hard to come by this season – Joel Robles has recently attained the first-choice goalkeeping role, leaving Howard to look elsewhere to find regular football.

The veteran will also assume an informal ambassador role, on behalf of the Toffees, once he takes up his new adventure.

Reflection upon his time at Everton, and his future, Howard said: “I’ve had a fantastic career in England and in particular at Everton, but as football clubs move forward and players have careers to think about you always have to make decisions.

“This one crept up on me – I had two more years at Everton which I planned on seeing out, but when I spoke to my family, Roberto Martinez and the chairman I thought the decision and the timing…just seemed to be the right move.

“The Rapids are trying to build something special – they’ve won an MLS Cup, know what it is to be a winner and they’re trying to get back to those heights.

“The plan they’ve put in place excited me – it’s a project and something I’m looking forward to. This isn’t a quick thing – it’s three-and-a-half years and I’m looking forward to being part of this club.

Martinez was full of praise of his long-serving keeper, he added:  “Tim is such an incredible character. With certain players, their contribution goes a little bit further than starting in the team or not and Tim is probably the perfect case of that.

“He is such an influence on the young players. We had a really good group of young players coming through in the last three years and Tim has been a vital player in helping those players feel Everton and to understand what it takes to play in the team.

“We have got a lifelong ambassador for our football club in the USA. We have a large following and a big Everton community in the USA because they were introduced to us through Tim Howard.

“He has been the most significant ambassador we had in America. Now we will have an Evertonian playing in the MLS and he will carry the name of Everton wherever he goes.”

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