Tim Iroegbunam reveals important advice he has already had from one Everton team-mate

New boy Tim Iroegbunam is hoping to hit the ground running at Everton after being reunited with a former team-mate who always used to push him.

Iroegbunam became the Blues’ first transfer signing of the summer when he joined them from Premier League rivals Aston Villa on Saturday for an undisclosed fee understood to be in the region of £9million. The midfielder, who celebrates his 21st birthday on Sunday, told the club’s website that he is looking forward to having Ashley Young – who penned a new one-year deal on Tuesday that will make him Everton’s oldest outfield player (he is almost 18 years older than Iroegbunam) – alongside him again.

He said: “I’m looking forward to seeing him again. He was always on to me, I’d say that!

“But I knew it came from a good place – he was always pushing me, encouraging me and giving me advice as a young player.

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“Obviously, he’s been through it himself and has had an amazing career so far. It’ll be good to play with him again and hopefully, he takes me under his wing.”

Great Barr-born Iroegbunam cut short his summer break to complete his move to Goodison Park, eager to get the deal finished ahead of the squad’s return for pre-season next month. Speaking on the aim to hit the ground running at Everton, he explained: “It was very important for me [to get the deal done early].

“It means I can get settled in and come in from day one and take my chance to impress from the start of pre-season. You don’t want to be playing catch-up in pre-season and I’m really pleased to get the move sorted quickly.”