Jul 04, 2012 04:54 AM EDT
English Premier League Transfer News: Naismith Signs for Everton; Holt Agrees New Deal with Norwich

Everton have beaten out interest from several other English Premier League clubs to striker Steven Naismith.

The Scottish international striker rejected a move to newco Rangers and was a free agent with the likes of Stoke City, Wigan Athletic and West Ham United interested. However, the chance of linking up with former Rangers team-mates Nikica Jelavic and David Weir coupled with working under a Scottish manager in David Moyes has swayed his decision to join the Toffees.

Naismith missed much of last season after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury and has not played a game since October. The 25-year-old underwent an extensive medical in Everton's Finch Farm training ground before agreeing on a four-year deal. Naismith also becomes Everton's first summer signing and will look to form a productive strike partnership with Jelavic.

"We are delighted that Steven has agreed to join us," Moyes told the club's official website. "He will be an excellent addition to the players we already have and we look forward to him being fit and ready to play at the start of the season.

"He is an established international who can play in a number of positions. He has a flexibility we always like in our players and which will hopefully prove to be very useful for us."

Naismith becomes one of several players to move to another club after rejecting a move to newco Rangers after oldco Rangers was liquidated.

Steven Whitaker has already signed for Norwich City while Stoke City have agreed a deal for Jamie Ness. Kyle Lafferty has joined Swiss club Sion, with several more expected to sign for new clubs.

"It is a great honour to be joining a club of Everton's wonderful history and to have the chance to play with such a talented group of players in the world's best league -- the Barclays Premier League, in front of such a passionate group of fans," Naismith told the club's official website.

"I look forward greatly to working with the manager David Moyes and all the staff at Everton and working hard to deliver on the pitch to repay their, and the chairman Mr Kenwright's, faith and belief in me."

Meanwhile, Grant Holt, who put in a transfer request at the start of the offseason, has signed a new three-year deal with Norwich after talks with new manager Chris Hughton convinced the club's leading goalscorer to stay at Carrow Road.

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