Stubbs' Everton return

Alan Stubbs has completed his move to Everton. The 29-year-old central defender, out of contract at the end of last month, rejected Celtic's offer of a new deal in order to return to the club he supported as a boy.

After being released by Everton in his teens, Stubbs made his name at Bolton. He joined Celtic in 1996 for £4.5m and helped them win the title two years later. However in 1999 a routine drug test after the Scottish Cup final revealed he was suffering from testicular cancer. He fought back twice and returned to the side at the end of last season. When he heard Everton were interested in taking him back home, he became manager Walter Smith's first signing of the summer.

Everton are also set to win the race for Wigan's Northern Ireland goalkeeper Roy Carroll because he does not want to be Manchester United's No 2. The Toffees have had an offer of £1m plus the £1m-rated Steve Simonsen accepted by the Second Division side and personal terms should be finalised over the weekend.