Norgaard says Everton move about playing ‘a bigger football role’

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Christian Norgaard said his desire to play a bigger part on the pitch was the overriding factor that led him to swap Arsenal for Everton in a £7m deal.

The Denmark midfielder, who only joined the Gunners from Brentford last summer, has signed a two-year contract on Merseyside.

Although Norgaard’s only season at the Emirates Stadium was a roaring success for Arsenal, who ended a 22-year wait to be crowned Premier League champions and almost made it a double in the Champions League, it was a frustrating campaign on an individual level.

The 32-year-old made 20 appearances across all competitions, with only 11 of those being starts as he racked up just 1,040 minutes.

Each of those figures were his lowest in a full season with a Premier League club, despite Brentford never having European football throughout his four top-flight seasons there.

And, having become Everton’s fourth signing of the summer after Hayden Hackney arrived from Middlesbrough and loan deals for Tyrique George and Merlin Rohl became permanent, Norgaard cannot wait to experience a home game at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

“It feels amazing. I’m so, so happy and pleased to have joined Everton,” Norgaard told the club’s website. “There were many factors to it. 

— Everton (@Everton) August 6, 2026

“I felt I needed a change and to play a bigger football role. When I spoke to David Moyes and others at the club involved in the transfer, I heard about the whole project and I was very intrigued. Coming here just makes that feeling even stronger.

“Also, my past experience of playing against Everton: the whole atmosphere, the fans, is something I really look forward to experiencing as an Everton player. 

“I can’t wait to experience the atmosphere as an Everton player. Goodison was amazing. I just remember the ground was shaking – literally shaking. 

“Then we came to the new stadium last year and I was so surprised because you often see clubs lose that intimacy and atmosphere. But I was so overwhelmed by how good the atmosphere was as well. So, I can see that the soul of Goodison has been brought to the new stadium.”

Everton open their Premier League campaign against Crystal Palace on August 22, with friendlies against Stuttgart and Newcastle United to come before then.

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