Everton sign River Plate Montevideo striker Leandro Rodriguez on four-year contract

Leandro Rodriguez has become Everton’s first ever Uruguayan player
The 22-year-old scored 19 goals in 71 games for River Plate Montevideo
Roberto Martinez expects Rodriguez to go straight into his first-team squad
Toffees are close to signing Argentina defender Ramiro Funes Mori
Martinez’s men take on Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Saturday evening

Published:
18:19 GMT, 28 August 2015

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Updated:
18:29 GMT, 28 August 2015

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Everton have completed the signing of Uruguayan striker Leandro Rodriguez on a four-year deal.

The 22-year-old, who has joined from River Plate Montevideo for a fee in the region of £500,000, become the Toffees’ fourth summer signing following the arrivals of Tom Cleverley, Gerard Deulofeu and Mason Holgate.

Rodriguez bagged 19 goals in 71 games for his hometown club and manager Roberto Martinez is confident he can adapt to life in the Premier League.

Everton have completed the signing of River Plate Montevideo striker Leandro Rodriguez on a four-year deal

Rodriguez is Everton’s fourth summer signing following Tom Cleverley, Gerard Deulofeu and Mason Holgate

Rodriguez scored 19 goals in 71 games for his hometown club before leaving for the Premier League

‘He’s a young talent – one of those elite, talented youngsters who we like to bring in,’ Martinez told evertonfc.com.

‘Mason Holgate is a clear example of a really strong, young English defender and Leandro Rodriguez is a young striker with a real knack of scoring goals.

‘But he’s much more than that, too. His contribution is a lot more than that and hopefully we can provide a path where he can develop and enjoy his football. If he can do that, clearly that’s going to bring goals to the first team.

‘He probably won’t [need time with the Under 21s] because he has played enough games with his first team in Uruguay in a really competitive league.

‘If you look at the amount of strikers that come through those environments, you don’t get surprised about the quality of these players.

‘I am not saying that to put pressure on the boy, but he is a player we can be very much excited about in the future.’

Rodriguez poses in front of some famous photos from Everton’s past at the club’s Finch Farm training ground

The 22-year-old striker shows off his new Everton shirt after putting pen to paper on a four-year contract

Roberto Martinez, pictured on the touchline at Oakwell on Wednesday, is attempting to strengthen his squad

Everton take on Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Saturday but Rodriguez is unlikely to be involved as he settles into life on Merseyside.

The club are also close to completing a deal for River Plate’s Argentina international Ramiro Funes Mori, who attended last Sunday’s 2-0 defeat by Manchester City at Goodison Park.

The Toffees are awaiting a work permit for Mori after agreeing personal terms with the player and a £5m fee with his club.