Marouane Fellaini has revealed his decision to sign a new five year deal at Goodison Park was swayed by the club's ambition to win back their place among the Premier League big boys.
The strapping young Belgian has been elevated to the status of the Blues' highest paid player at just 23 years of age, thought to be now picking up around £70k a week.
The announcement of his new deal by the Toffees today brought a happy conclusion to months of negotiation during which Fellaini's future had become a source of uncertainty for many Evertonians.
But after putting pen to paper at Finch Farm, Fellaini addressed press in a jovial mood insisting Everton's ambition and optimism meant he was happy to sign.
He said: "I'm happy to sign here because I've been here three and a half years, and I have a good feeling about my colleagues, the manager, the chairman and the direction (of the club).
"When I came here I was 20. The first year was hard because the Premier League is a hard level, but with time and with games now I feel proven and I have a good feeling about playing in this league.
"Everton gave me the contract because they have good ambition and they want to sign players.
"At the start of the season the supporters where unhappy because we didn't sign any new players, but I think in time Everton will buy players."
That Fellaini was still in talks with the club when the shock departure of Mikel Arteta left shockwaves reverberating around Goodison Park, did little to ease the worries of suspicious fans who wandered why the youngster's contract talks seemed to be rumbling on.
But, according to the player, the sale of Arteta had no impact on his deliberations. Fellaini saying that he and the Spaniard were in very different stages in their career.
He said: "With Mikky Arteta, he is 28 or 29 and he has ambition also, he played seven years here.
"But I am young and Everton have given me the contract because they have ambition, if there was no ambition, I don't sign here."
That youth could be the key to Everton's ascent in the league as they try to bounce back from a poor run of six defeats in seven games which sees the Toffees one place and one point above the relegation zone.
Fellaini said the performances of fellow starlet Jack Rodwell alongside him in a midfield berth will be crucial as the Blues try to kick on.
He said: "Everton have good young players, Jack Rodwell has just played for the first time in the national team and at the moment he's playing good.
It's important to stay at a high level if you want to play for the national team.
"I just want to keep going and I hope to win a lot of games for Everton, because at the moment we don't have a lot of points and we need to start on Saturday.
"We need to win against Wolves, I think it will be difficult because we're in the same situation.
"But I think the players are together, we play together, fight together and I think it's good for Saturday. At Everton the players have a good mentality and the manager.
"It's important we try to finish in the top five, six or seven, after that we can try for the trophy. But at the moment its difficult because the situation is not good."
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