Everton announce signing of Belgian midfielder Justine Vanhaevermaet

Everton Women's team has boosted its ranks with the signing of Belgian international midfielder Justine Vanhaevermaet.

The 31-year-old joins the club on a two-year contract, extending till June 2025. This move follows her two-year stint with Reading in the English top-flight league.

The acquisition of Vanhaevermaet, who has an extensive playing experience across Belgium, Germany, and Norway, comes as Everton’s fourth summer signing, following Martina Piemonte, Emily Ramsey, and Emma Bissell.

Expressing her enthusiasm about joining the club, Vanhaevermaet said, "I'm so happy to be at Everton. This is a big club in English football and the women’s team has been progressing well over the past year. I hope I can help continue to improve that level and contribute to more success.”

Having played against Everton last season, Vanhaevermaet is confident that her playing style will complement manager Brian Sorensen's approach.

She praised the team's quality of football and expressed her excitement about working with Sorensen, emphasizing the importance of a positive coach-player connection.

Sorensen, the manager, reciprocated her sentiments, stating that Vanhaevermaet's calm and composed presence would be a valuable asset to the younger players in the squad. 

“Justine has shown a calm, composed presence during her time playing so far in England,” he told evertonfc.com.

“Justine really impressed me in the games she played against us last season and in other games when I watched her.

“She’s extremely mobile, can cover a lot of ground and be a threat both in defensive and offensive set-pieces.“