Everton confirm Leicester scout Walsh as new DoF

Matt Stead

Everton have confirmed the appointment of Steve Walsh as their new director of football.

Walsh arrives from Leicester having played a role in the club’s stunning Premier League title success last season.

The 51-year-old, who has previously held positions at Bury, Chester and Chelsea, will start work at Everton immediately.

The appointment of Walsh continues Everton’s summer revamp following the arrival of new major investor Farhad Moshiri and the appointment of Ronald Koeman as manager.

Walsh boasts a strong reputation and was credited with recommeding the signings of Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and N’Golo Kante during his time at Leicester, where he served as assistant manager and head of recruitment.

While at Chelsea he was instrumental in the signings of players such as Gianfranco Zola, Didier Drogba and Michael Essien.

In a statement released by Everton, Walsh said: “I’m proud and privileged to become director of football at such a fantastic and historic club.

“With a new manager and a new major shareholder, it feels very much like a new era here at Everton and that potential is what is most exciting.”

Walsh, a former physical education teacher, has links to Everton with his brother Mickey having played for the club in the 1978-79 season.

He worked under Nigel Pearson in two spells at Leicester either side of a stint at Hull and remained with the Foxes after Pearson’s departure as manager last summer.

His decision to leave Leicester comes after the club also lost Kante, one of the cornerstones of their title triumph, to Chelsea.

Koeman said: “It’s really good for the club to have someone in Steve who has shown his quality in his job at a number of clubs over many years.

“That’s the experience and quality he will bring to us at a good time in the season. He has a great deal of knowledge about building for the long-term and the magnificent work he did at Leicester on top of the job he did at Chelsea makes us excited to have him here at Everton.”

Everton chairman Bill Kenwright said: “His track record, particularly at Leicester City, is already the stuff of football folklore, and both myself and Farhad are convinced he is exactly the right fit for our club and our new manager.”