England defender Coady swaps Wolves for Everton

Long-serving Wolves captain Conor Coady has left Molineux to join Everton on an initial loan deal.

The centre-back, 29 has, spent more than seven years in the West Midlands, clocking up 317 appearances in all competitions.

But he now becomes Frank Lampard's fourth summer signing after James Tarkowski, Dwight McNeil and Ruben Vinagre moved to the Toffees.

Speaking after completing his switch, Coady said: "It's incredible to join Everton. As soon as I heard the interest, from the manager but also the football club itself, I really wanted to be part of it straight away. I'm over the moon to join.

"I've grown up around the city, I know the football club, how big this club is and what it means to the supporters. 

"I'm someone who was desperate to come here, to play for this club. I’ve got family and friends who are massive Evertonians.

"I'm here to give absolutely everything I've got for this football club. It's important I work as hard as I can to help my team-mates, help the club move forward and make people proud."

Born in nearby St Helens, Coady began his professional career with neighbours and boyhood club Liverpool.

He struggled to make a first-team breakthrough for the Reds before joining Huddersfield in 2014.

After a single season in West Yorkshire, Coady signed for Wolves, winning promotion to the Premier League in 2019 — as well as England recognition. 

Coady was captain at Molineux but with head coach Bruno Lage moving away from his preferred back three to a four-man defence, opportunities were likely to be limited.

And his service to the club meant that chairman Jeff Shi was keen to grant the captain his wish of leaving for first-team football.

Shi said: "Conor has been an integral part of our success over the last five seasons, and loyal servant to the club over his seven years at Molineux. 

"His dedication to Wolves in that time means that we choose not to stand in the way of his desire to play football elsewhere, and he leaves with our best wishes."

The 10-cap international will now hope to force himself into the reckoning for Gareth Southgate's Three Lions squad for the World Cup starting in November.

Everton are already facing up to the possibility of losing star centre-back duo Ben Godfrey and Yerry Mina for a considerable period of time after both suffered injury in Saturday's home defeat to Chelsea.