PLAYER PROFILE

Andrew Johnson

Position: Forward

Height: 5'6

Weight: 10st 0lbs

Date of Birth: 1981-02-10 Bedford, England

Andrew Johnson

Everton completed the £8.6million signing of striker Andrew Johnson from Crystal Palace in May 2006, with the England international penning a five-year contract at Goodison Park.

The 25-year-old opted to join the Toffees after also being the subject of major offers from Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers.

Johnson said after completing the formalities of his transfer: "I am looking forward to giving 110 per cent in every game I play in and hopefully I can score goals for Everton."

He had earlier told the club's official website: "After several days of careful consideration, I have decided that my footballing future lies at Goodison Park.

"I find the prospect of playing for one of the biggest names in British football impossible to resist.

"I believe Everton will afford me the best opportunity to fulfil my twin ambitions of winning major honours and representing England again at senior level.

"I would like to thank both Wigan and Bolton, firstly for having sufficient faith in my abilities to lodge a bid, and secondly for being so courteous and professional during the course of our negotiations."

Before his switch to Everton, Johnson moved from Birmingham City to Crystal Palace as part of the deal that saw Clinton Morrison move in the opposite direction in July 2002.

At the time, Palace fans were disappointed to see former boss Steve Bruce relieving them of their top scorer, but they soon warmed to "AJ", who has been relevation during his time at Selhurst Park.

Johnson endeared himself to The Eagles' faithful when he hit a hat-trick against the club's local rivals Brighton in October 2002, following that up with another in the next game against Walsall. Although he missed some of that season through injury, the talented striker still managed to notch 14 goals, and in 2003/04 he doubled that tally, bagging 28, to become the highest scorer in the Nationwide League. He also slotted home one of the penalties that earned Palace their place in the play-off final, and it was his run and shot that set up skipper Neil Shipperley for the winning goal in Cardiff.

A quick-thinking forward with lightning pace, Johnson has added a goal-scorer's composure to his game and has more than fulfilled the potential he showed as a youngster at Birmingham.

He proved to be an impressive addition to Everton's strikeforce as he scored 12 goals in 35 appearances. Controversy struck when Jose Mourinho accused him of diving during a league match in December. However, replays proved Johnson had gone down fairly and Mourinho amazingly issued an apology.