Everton have confirmed Morgan Schneiderlin’s departure from the club.
Schneiderlin made 88 appearances during a three-and-a-half year spell following his £22 million move from Manchester United in January 2017.
The former France international featured just five times under Carlo Ancelotti with his final Blues outing coming in a 3-2 defeat at Arsenal on February 23.
On Tuesday the Blues announced Schneiderlin will return to his homeland with Nice, currently managed by Patrick Vieira, for an undisclosed fee.
Ancelotti paid tribute to the outgoing 30-year-old from the limited time that he spent working with him at the end of his time with the Goodison Park club.
He said: “I can talk about the period he spent with me.
“He had a good period and was injured but when he played, he played well.
“Everyone in the club is happy for what he did as a professional here. Everyone of us wants to wish him the best.
“He had the desire to go back and play in France and we allowed him the possibility.
“We wish him all the best for the future.”