David Moyes has been appointed as the new Everton manager.

The 61-year-old returns to the Blues 12 years after leaving for Manchester United and with the club facing its latest battle for Premier League survival. The ECHO understands that Moyes has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract.

The Friedkin Group had sought a quick appointment following the dismissal of Sean Dyche on Thursday afternoon and have achieved that, with Moyes set to take the side for its next game, the Premier League clash with Aston Villa at Goodison Park on Wednesday night.

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"It’s great to be back! I enjoyed 11 wonderful and successful years at Everton and didn’t hesitate when I was offered the opportunity to rejoin this great club," said Moyes.

Everton's new executive Chairman Marc Watts said: “We are pleased that David is joining us at this pivotal time in Everton’s history. With over a decade of experience at the club, he is the right leader to propel us through our final season at Goodison Park and into our new stadium. We look forward to working with David to build the foundation of a new era for Everton.”

Moyes quickly emerged as the frontrunner to replace Dyche, with TFG entering negotiations with him almost immediately after Dyche’s departure. While Moyes had recently stated his preference was to avoid a managerial return that would see him embroiled in a relegation battle, it is understood Everton was deemed a special case and that he was open to a return to Merseyside.

Moyes spent 11 years in charge of the Blues, leading the club to regular qualification for European football and an FA Cup final. The stability and relative success of his first stint has been longed-for for much of the turbulent years of the Farhad Moshiri era that followed.

Now he will be tasked with re-discovering those days with his first task to pull Everton clear of the relegation zone. Moyes takes over with Everton in 16th place and just one point from the bottom three after three wins in the opening 19 games.

His most recent role had been at West Ham United, who he led to the Europa Conference League in 2023.