Everton secure permanent Pienaar deal

Everton FC have signed South Africa midfielder Steven Pienaar on a permanent basis from BV Borussia Dortmund after his successful season's loan at the Premier League side.

Successful season
The Merseyside club agreed a €2.6m fee with Dortmund last summer for Pienaar, who has now approved a three-year contract to stay at Everton until the summer of 2011. The 26-year-old has played 25 league games for the Toffees this term – scoring two goals – after arriving from the Bundesliga last July. "Steven has done well for us," said Everton manager David Moyes. "He is one of the reasons our football has improved – he is a really good football player." Pienaar, who had moved to Dortmund from AFC Ajax in 2006 and has 31 international caps, also helped Everton reach the UEFA Cup Round of 16, making eight appearances.