Tim Howard’s Everton career will draw to a close this summer after he agreed to join the Colorado Rapids.
Howard has spent 10 seasons with the Blues but is now set for a new challenge as he returns to his native United States after signing a three-and-a-half-year deal with the Major League Soccer outfit.
A statement from the Rapids today confirmed that the one-time Manchester United goalkeeper will join their ranks when the American transfer window reopens on July 4.
“Tim is exceptional, both as a player and a person,” said Paul Bravo, the club’s Technical Director and VP of Soccer Operations.
“He proved it at the last World Cup for the U.S National Team and he has been proving it for the last decade in the English Premier League.
“He has experience at the very pinnacle of the sport but we feel he has much still to offer on the pitch. We believe this is a pivotal signing for the Colorado Rapids.”
The 37-year-old’s decision to move on from Goodison Park coincides with him recently falling out of favour under Roberto Martinez, who has elected Howard’s understudy Joel Robles as Everton’s new first-choice stopper.
He said: “I will remain an Evertonian for life. This will always be my team; my club.
“I sacrificed so much to play the amount of games I have over a 10-year period, so I will continue to support this club that I love. The club is amazing, I love it and I will always be an Everton player. I have been at Everton 10 years and it’s been a brilliant 10 years.
“I spoke to my family, I spoke to Roberto and I spoke to the chairman, Bill Kenwright. We had really great discussions and we all felt this was the right move and the right time.
“They supported my decision, they have always been 100% committed to me and they appreciated the fact that it’s time for me to go back home and play my football.
“There are a few more months left which I am excited about because I realise it’s now coming to an end, so I will get my head down and enjoy the remaining time.
“I will miss it a lot. This is home. I grew up here. To stay 10 years in any place is a long time and this has become without doubt my family. You see the same faces every day and you have respect for them, you have love for them and a great working relationship.
“And because this is home, of course I will miss it, but I’m excited about my move to Colorado Rapids and continuing my career with them.”