Everton clinch Bent signing

Career stats: Marcus Bent

Everton have signed Ipswich striker Marcus Bent for £450,000 on a three-year deal.

The 26-year-old, who also attracted interest from West Brom and Portsmouth, will officially become an Everton player on 1 July.

"We're delighted to have signed Marcus," Everton boss David Moyes told the club's official website.

"He'll give an added dimension to the squad because he can play up front and he can play wide right."

Moyes added: "He's a good age and he's a price that at this present time we could afford.

"He's got athleticism, he's quick, good in the air and we'll be looking to fit him in the squad.

"I'm intending bringing in more players and hopefully Marcus is the first of many."

Bent said that Moyes' intervention had swung his decision.

Hopefully I can come here and make a difference Marcus Bent

"I was very impressed with what David had to say," said Bent.

"He told me why he wanted me here and what he wanted me to do for the club and for myself and he was very positive. It made me want to come here.

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"From his point of view he's very focused, he's very determined, he knows what he wants and I think the players are going to give it to him.

"The club has a lot of ambition - it's a big club, although it hasn't done as well as it could have done last year.

I am a lot happier with Bent than I would have been with Dickov From Diamond Have your say on 606

"But hopefully I can come here, make a difference and do my utmost to be as good as I can be and score goals."

Bent spent last season on loan at Leicester City, scoring 10 goals in 35 appearances as the Foxes were relegated from the Premiership.

He has also had spells with Blackburn, Sheffield United, Crystal Palace, Port Vale and Brentford.

Bent joined Ipswich from Blackburn for £3m in November 2001, but the club could not afford to pay the final year of his £17,000-per-week contract.