Everton striker Ellis Simms has completed a loan move to Sunderland and will spend the 2022/23 on loan with the Championship club.
Simms, who signed a new contract with the Blues in November, enjoyed an impressive spell with Hearts during the second half of the last campaign.
A number of clubs have been chasing the forward throughout the summer, but he has opted to move to Sunderland, having also received interest from Blackpool and Hearts.
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The 21-year-old scored seven goals in 20 appearances during his spell at Hearts, including a stunning long-range strike that helped the Edinburgh side past city rivals Hibernian in the Scottish Cup semi-final. That followed a pivotal role in Blackpool's promotion to the Championship the year before.
Simms travelled to the US for Everton's pre-season tour but did not play a role in the friendly fixtures with Arsenal or Minnesota United. He was then an unused substitute in the win over Blackpool on Sunday, despite Dominic Calvert-Lewin being left out as a precaution.
Simms committed his future to Everton in November, signing a three-year deal. At the time, he said: “Everton is a massive club and I love it here. From Under-16s level to now, the club has helped me grow as a person and as a player. The support the club has given me has been fantastic and I’m very grateful to sign this new deal."
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