Ellis Simms has completed his move to Coventry City from Everton.
The 22-year-old has secured a move to the Midlands club for an unofficial fee, Everton have confirmed. The deal advanced after Coventry met the club’s valuation for the striker, which is thought to be between £6m-£8m.
Simms had been the subject of interest from a host of Championship clubs, including Sunderland, Swansea City and Ipswich Town. But Coventry, who missed out on promotion to the Premier League after defeat in the play-off final, won the battle for his signature after a breakthrough in negotiations in recent days.
Upon confirming the departure of Simms, who joined Everton aged 16, the club said: “Everyone at Everton wishes Ellis all the best for the future.”
READ MORE: Inside Everton's first day of pre-season as new deal confirmed and double two-hour tests taken
READ MORE: Everton starlet signs contract as Kevin Thelwell plan continues
Simms’ departure had looked likely as the Blues entered this summer in need of an overhaul of attacking options. He made 11 appearances for Everton last season after being recalled from a loan spell with Sunderland in January as then manager Frank Lampard sought to deal with a striker crisis.
Highlights included his first senior Blues goal, an important equaliser in a draw at Chelsea, and starts at Old Trafford and Anfield. He was unable to cement himself as a fixture in the first team despite injuries to Dominic Calvert-Lewin, however, and Dyche looked to alternative options toward the end of the campaign.
Simms’ departure comes with the exit of 17-year-old defender Ishe Samuels-Smith to Chelsea, in a deal worth around £4m, which is also expected to be confirmed in the coming days.
