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Marouane Fellaini signed for Everton in a transfer deadline-beating switch in September 2008.

In bringing Fellaini to Goodison Park, Everton broke their transfer record, paying over £12m for the player.

The midfielder arrived from Standard Liege, signing a five-year deal.

He came to Goodison Park amid reported interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa.

The powerful midfielder had made 84 appearances for the Belgian champions, scoring 11 times.

In 2007 he made his debut for Belgium, and continued to be a regular for his national side.

2008 saw him feature at the Beijing Olympics - where he was sent off in the opening game for two yellow cards against Brazil.

In his homeland he had developed a reputation for his high quality midfield performances, and at well over six foot he is expected to add a real physical presence to the side.

Fellaini fared well in his first season, playing in midfield and as an emergency striker. He scored 9 goals and despite receiving a spate of harshly awarded bookings he was named Young Player of the Season by the fans.

Despite shedding half a stone in the summer after contracting a virus, Fellaini was soon back to his best, prompting David Moyes to declare him the league's best midfielder after a goal at Sunderland on Boxing Day 2009.

But serious injury hit Felli in January when a serious foul by Liverpool's Sotirios Kyrgiakos damaged his ankle, ruling him out for the rest of the season.

He worked hard throughout the summer and made an impressive return in early August in the friendly win over Everton Chile.

He was hit by a hamstring problem not long into the season and then a three-match ban further hampered his progress before he returned to his best form in 2011.

Frustratingly for the big Belgian, he suffered a serious ankle problem against Sunderland in February and didn't feature again that season.