Slovakia international Jan Mucha joined Everton in July 2010 after starring in his country’s run to the last 16 at the World Cup in South Africa.

The Blues had wrapped up a pre-contract deal to bring the highly-rated keeper to Goodison Park from Legia Warsaw on a free transfer long before the tournament began.

He put pen to paper on a three-year deal, keeping him on Merseyside until the summer of 2013.

He arrived having impressed for Legia after becoming the first-team regular in the wake of Lukasz Fabianksi's switch to Arsenal in 2007. 

The stopper, who began his career in his homeland with Inter Bratislava, earned his move to Warsaw in 2005 after twice winning the Slovakian double with his second club MSK Zilina.

In his time in the Polish capital, the 6ft 3in custodian added further league and cup triumphs to his list of honours and earned a first international outing against Hungary in February 2008.

Mucha is expected to provide competition for current first-choice Tim Howard and made a couple of decent appearances in pre-season.

The Slovakian made his full Everton debut in the 5-1 thumping of Huddersfield Town in the Carling Cup second round in August 2010.

But he remained very much as back-up to Tim Howard.