Marcel Brands has been confrmed as Everton’s new Director of Football.
Brands succeeds Steve Walsh at Goodison Park after agreeing to end his eight-year spell as sporting director with Eredivisie champions PSV Eindhoven.
He has been credited with identifying several prominent players during his time with PSV, including Mousa Dembele, Dries Mertens and Kevin Strootman.
The 56-year-old informed the Dutch outfit’s board on Wednesday that he will be leaving to take up a new role with the Blues on June 1.
He said: “It is a privilege to be joining Everton as Director of Football and I am incredibly excited to take on this challenge.
“The fantastic passion of the fans for their club, the magnificent history of the club over the years and the ambition and purpose we have as people tasked with driving the club forward all mean that we need to be competing for honours against the Premier League elite.
“It is no straightforward challenge but this must be our motivation each and every day.
“I am looking forward to working with Farhad Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright, whom I thank for entrusting me with this role and responsibility.
“I am also looking forward to working with the board of directors and with our new CEO, Denise Barrett-Baxendale.
“I know we have very committed people here who want only the best for Everton.
“It is only a challenge such as this which could have persuaded me to leave PSV where I am indebted to the many people whose collective effort led to some great achievements.
“Now we will look to build something really strong and lasting here at Everton.”
News of Brands’ arrival emerged on the same day Everton parted with manager Sam Allardyce and barely 24 hours since a boardroom reshuffle.
“Marcel’s record of achievement has cemented his reputation across Europe and I am extremely pleased that we will be bringing his drive, energy and expertise to Everton,” said Moshiri.
“It was clear to me in our conversations that he shares in the vision we have for the club and he has much to contribute in making us better and more equipped to challenge the top teams in the Premier League.”
Walsh arrived on Merseyside with an impressive reputation after being credited with helping Leicester City’s unlikely Premier League title triumph.
But his role in a spending spree which exceeded £100 million last summer and yielded little successes ultimately played a part in his Everton downfall.