Ghanian star joins Everton on loan

London - Everton have signed Ghana winger Christian Atsu on a season-long loan from Premier League rivals Chelsea, the Merseyside club announced.

The two clubs confirmed the deal on Wednesday night after Atsu passed a medical. He could make his Everton debut in their Premier League opener at Leicester City on Saturday.

"I'm very happy to be joining Everton because it's a great club, which likes to play football, and it's a great pleasure to be here," Atsu told evertontv.

"Playing in the Premier League has always been a dream for me and I have achieved that dream.

"This is the biggest level for me to play at. I know that it's a very competitive league and I believe with hard work we're going to be successful this season."

Atsu joined Chelsea from Porto last year and spent the 2013-14 campaign on loan at Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem, with whom the London club have a strategic partnership.

He started all three of Ghana's matches at the World Cup in Brazil.

Everton welcomed their new loanee on Twitter:

PHOTO: And here's the first photo of our new winger in royal blue! #EFC pic.twitter.com/fgKBvCbgRC

— Everton (@Everton) August 13, 2014

"He's a player who fits in with the culture and the way we want to play," said Everton manager Roberto Martinez.

"He's a left-footed player who loves taking people on and he's got a really good understanding of the game for such a young man."

Atsu is Everton's fourth close-season signing, following Gareth Barry, Muhamed Besic and record signing Romelu Lukaku, who also arrived from Chelsea.