Everton sign LA Galaxy striker Landon Donovan on loan

Posted Saturday, December 19, 2009 by BBC.com

The 27-year-old, who holds the USA's records for goals scored, will join the Toffees on 2 January and is to remain on Merseyside until mid-March.

"He will come in and add pace, he's a good finisher and is captain of the USA national team so has that experience," said Everton manager David Moyes.

"He is the first of two or three players I want to bring in in January."

Donovan's arrival will provide a much-needed boost to Everton's injury-ravaged squad as they look to move up the Premier League table.

"American boys in the main tend to come over here and do well," added Moyes. "He was voted the best player in Major League Soccer (MLS), so I think he can bring some qualities we can use.

"He is relatively experienced and I need these players to come in and hit the ground running, not need a month or two to get ready."

The Toffees are likely to be without Jack Rodwell for Sunday's match against Birmingham, with Joseph Yobo, Sylvain Distin, Dan Gosling, Mikel Arteta, Phil Jagielka, Phil Neville, Victor Anichebe and James Vaughan also injured.

Donovan has scored 42 goals in 120 appearances for his national team, although he failed to find his best form in the German league during spells at Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich.

If fit, Donovan is virtually certain to start for the US against England in his nation's first group match at the World Cup in South Africa next summer.

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On Wednesday, the forward said he had spoken to Everton's US keeper Tim Howard and was "very passionate" about a loan move.

The team-mate of David Beckham was speaking as he announced a new four-year deal with LA Galaxy that will keep him at the MLS team until the end of 2013.

"I've spoken to Tim Howard about Everton and I've heard from him, and others, nothing but good things," said Donovan. "You want to go where you are wanted.

"Everton have been incredibly professional and expressed their interest and I feel that is a place where I would feel very comfortable."