Steven Pienaar re-joins Everton after Tottenham accept £4.5m offer

Steven Pienaar spoke of his delight after sealing his move back to Everton and insisted he never doubted he would be returning to Goodison Park.

Everton announced last night they had re-signed the South Africa midfielder from Tottenham for £4.5million on a four-year deal.

Pienaar initially left the Toffees for Tottenham in January 2011 but failed to make an impression under then-boss Harry Redknapp and spent the second half of last season back at Everton on loan.

It proved to be an inspired move, with Pienaar playing a key role as Everton finished seventh in the Barclays Premier League.

Neither he nor boss David Moyes made any secret of attempting to make the move a permanent one and Pienaar expressed his joy after the transfer was completed.

He told evertontv: "I am happy to be here. It took a few weeks to sort out but I am delighted to be back and excited to play for Everton.

"There was no doubt in my mind that I would be back here. At the end of the season I told the manager how I felt and I am happy now it is all done."

Pienaar had limited opportunities after moving to Tottenham for a reported fee of £3m and he made just five Premier League starts in just over a year at White Hart Lane.

He took the opportunity to move back to Everton, whom he initially joined on loan from Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund in 2007 before signing permanently 12 months later months later, in the January transfer window.

There he scored four goals in 14 Premier League games and admitted in May he wished to remain on Merseyside, while Moyes was equally intent on re-signing the 30-year-old.

PA