Everton have confirmed on their official website that they have completed the deadline-day capture of Joshua King from Bournemouth after agreeing on a nominal fee to bring the forward to Goodison Park until the end of this campaign.
King’s Lacklustre Form In The Championship This Season
The Norwegian striker has experienced an underwhelming season at the Vitality Stadium as he has struggled to find his best form in the EFL Championship. King has banged in three goals and secured two assists in 14 matches for the Cherries this term across all competitions.
The 29-year-old has failed to give a good account of himself in the attacking third of the field and is only averaging 1.2 shots, 0.7 key passes and 0.8 dribbles per game in the English second tier. He has also been sloppy when distributing the ball in the opposition half as evidenced by his pass success rate of 73.3% in league football (stats via whoscored).
King will believe that he can still prove his worth in the Premier League where he has registered 48 goals and 15 assists in 161 appearances thus far. Despite his poor record this season, there is no doubt that the Norwegian speedster will enhance the overall depth of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad.
What Will The Norway International Bring To The Table?
King boasts blistering pace in his locker, which he can use to beat his marker in the final third. He can get into some dangerous areas inside the opponent’s penalty box and can be a composed finisher when he is playing with confidence on the pitch. King is versatile enough to play anywhere across the frontline. He is primarily a striker but can also play as a winger on either flank if required.
The 51-time Norway international can even utilise his long 1.87m frame to hold possession up for his teammates and is also a great penalty taker. However, the Oslo-born talent can sometimes fade in and out of matches, so he could struggle to earn regular first-team chances at Goodison Park this season. At 29, he should be near his peak, so the Merseyside outfit might fancy getting the best out of him in the second half of this campaign.
Is King The Right Fit For The Toffees?
If Ancelotti is planning to use King as a squad player, then he will be a decent fit for the Toffees as the Norwegian’s pace and goal-threat would make him an ideal back-up to Dominic Calvert-Lewin at Merseyside. He will also serve as a good impact substitute off the bench, so the Everton supporters have many reasons to be excited about their new mid-season acquisition.
