Wright agrees £4.5m Everton move

Richard Wright agreed to join Everton in a deal which will earn Arsenal up to £4.5million today.

The 24-year-old was a £6m signing from Ipswich at the start of last season, but failed to oust England No1 David Season from the first team at Highbury.

In the process, Wright lost his place in the England squad and missed out on this summer's World Cup.

Wright's agent Jonathan Barnett said: "It was a big decision for Richard. He had to weigh up all the pros and cons.

"He loved Arsenal and they liked him. But he wants to be the England goalkeeper and he thought if he leaves it another year, that he might be too far behind other goalkeepers and he did not want to give them the advantage. He needed to be playing Premiership football."

Wright agreed personal terms and passed a medical yesterday and is set to sign tomorrow morning. He will join for an initial fee of £3.5m with another £1m payable to Arsenal depending on appearances.

His arrival at Goodison ends manager David Moyes's hunt for a goalkeeper after he failed to land Mart Poom from Derby and Turkey international Rustu Recber.

Everton chief executive Michael Dunford said: "We're delighted that Richard has agreed to join us."