Salomon Rondon joins Everton on a free transfer
Everton made a solitary transfer deadline day signing in Salomon Rondon. The Venezuelan joined the Toffees on a two year deal with an option to extend for one more year. Rondon became the fourth free transfer of the window after Andros Townsend, Asmir Begovic, and Andy Lonergan.
Rondon joins the Royal Blues mainly as a backup to Dominic Calvert-Lewin after Moise Kean joined Juventus on a two year loan deal with an obligation to buy. The player was at Dalian Professional since 2019 which included a short loan spell at CSKA Moscow earlier this year.
Rondon reunites with Rafa Benitez for the third time in his career with the duo previously working together at Newcastle United and Dalian Pro. Parallels can be drawn between the duo of James Rodriguez – Carlo Ancelotti and Rondon – Benitez. Last season, Ancelotti wanted to bring the Colombian and was successful in persuading the 30 year old, reuniting at Everton after previous stints at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
The Venezuela international will be available for selection soon after the International break as the striker has not joined the national team and won’t have to undergo any quarantine. The 31 year old could be in contention to make his Everton debut against Burnley on 14th September. Rondon’s addition addresses a key deficit area, giving some room for Benitez to work with.
Here are three things Salomon Rondon can offer to Everton:
Salomon Rondon arrives at Everton to bolster the striking department
Massive upgrade on Moise Kean, Cenk Tosun and Joshua King
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s rise as Everton No.9 has been unprecedented. Duncan Ferguson has played a monumental part in his ascent. He is rightfully justifying why he deserves to dawn the No.9 jersey that has been worn by legends like Dixie Dean and Ferguson himself.
Sadly, the situation regarding a backup striker is not as settled as the striker’s role. Over the previous few seasons, Moise Kean, Cenk Tosun and most recently Joshua King have carried out the role of being a backup striker but when handed with opportunities, all have underwhelmed.
Kean, arrived as a budding young striker with loads of potential and talent. The Italian had to remain patient and wait for his chance. He got opportunities but the 21 year old failed to be decisive in front of goal. In his debut season, Kean scored just two goals in 33 games.
Last season when Kean left on loan, Tosun was entrusted with the role of a backup striker after he was deemed fit. He made a total of seven appearances and netted one goal. In a grander scheme of things, Tosun has never imposed himself as a prolific and dangerous striker at Everton. 11 goals in 58 games for Toffees is not a glowing endorsement of a striker’s character.
Everton signed Joshua King in January to add depth to the squad as Tosun joined Besiktas on loan. Sadly, King may have not got a proper opportunity as he never started a game for the Merseysiders.
Yet, he managed 11 substitute appearances and netted zero goals. King’s failure at Everton is not entirely his fault but the trend goes on to show how ineffective backup striker options have been for the Toffees.
Salomon Rondon arrives with a better CV. He has ample Premier League experience and is aware of Rafa Benitez’s system and philosophy. Under Rafa Benitez, the Venezuelan has played 61 games in totality (Newcastle and Dalian Pro) and notched 26 goals while also assisting 14.
Supremacy in scoring stats alone doesn’t prove why Rondon is a massive upgrade on his predecessors. It’s his all-round abilities that showcase why the 31 year old is a gladiator and extremely effective.
Salomon Rondon and Rafa Benitez share a cordial relationship
Salomon Rondon: The Gladiator
Salomon Rondon arrived in Europe at the age of 18. After spells in Spain and Russia, the Venezuelan arrived at the Premier League. His most notable Premier League spell was at Newcastle United where he met Rafa Benitez for the first time and the Spaniard changed Rondon’s way of seeing and perceiving football.
Rondon is a warrior, a gladiator. Essentially, he embodies the warrior spirit that is synonymous with the fleet of footballers coming from South America. The South American blood running in his veins along with his ventures in Europe has battle hardened him and made him a robust combatant.
"“All of a sudden, Rafa drew some goalposts. He said to me, ‘What position do you play?’ and I replied, ‘Forward’, to which he said, ‘And forwards score goals, don’t they?’ He then went on to ask me about where I would place the ball in the goal and why. He really made me think about how I score goals. That is something that will stay with me forever” (via Sky Sports)"
This short episode summarizes the kind of influence Rafa had on Rondon. Furthermore, while speaking for the first time to Everton, the 31 year old striker pressed on how Benitez has been important in shaping his career.
"“The manager [Benitez] taught me it is the finishing and movement that is important. Sometimes, I saw my job as just to score goals. I am a striker and want to score goals and give assists. But the most important thing is movement to help the team, to create space for another player, or for me, if a defender is near. Rafa changed the vision I have of football because the team is the most important thing for a club and the players.” (via club’s official website)"
Rondon is excellent when it comes to movement on and off the ball. He is a proper team oriented player and times his runs in a way to gain maximum space to evade the opponent and receive the ball.
The Venezuelan doesn’t possess breathtaking acceleration so beating his opponent on pace alone seldom yields favourable results. His strong build and physically imposing structure allow him to dominate duels and even aerial battles. His understanding and scanning of the game is a big strength. The 31 year old drags defenders out of position creating space for other teammates and in turn disrupting the opposition lines.
Rondon is a blend of physical strength, consistency, strong vision and decent technical skills. On top of that he’s an extremely hard worker off the ball. History says that Rafa Benitez loves such players and Rondon is exactly what the former Real Madrid manager had been demanding. He’s a gladiator with the capability to tear the opposition apart, churn them out, and spit their bones.
Everton have a chance to expand their South American presence in Venezuela through Salomon Rondon
Promoting Everton globally by enhancing presence in South America
While Salomon Rondon can prove to be a prolific striker on the pitch for Everton, off the field he can enhance Everton’s commercial presence. Over the last few years, Everton are determined to expand their presence on the globe not only through football but commercial opportunities.
South America for long is considered as a never-drying market that can help Everton in growing its global value. Players from South American nations is a decent start. Salomon Rondon joins the ever growing list of South American contingent at Everton. James Rodriguez and Yerry Mina from Colombia, Richarlison and Allan from Brazil are the other four players part of this mini-company.
When James was signed, Everton became the favorite club of every Colombian who followed the Premier League. Thrilled by the arrival of their icon at Goodison Park, the fans have set up Bogota Blues- first Everton supporters club in Colombia. The Colpatria Tower in Bogota was smeared with blue lights when James was announced. The billboards at New York Times Square flashed images of Rodriguez in the Everton jersey.
Shirt sales have significantly jumped in Brazil and South America, in some cases a mammoth 6000% increase. Now much of this credit falls to James’ status in Colombia and Richarlison’s rise.
Salomon Rondon doesn’t command the same enigma as Rodriguez does in Colombia. But, the acquisition of the former West Brom striker allows Everton to tap into the Venezuelan market and further strengthen their foothold in South America.
It falls in line with the vision of Everton to promote the club on a global level and enhance the enriching fan experience. Randon is not only a perfect backup striker that Everton needs but also a perfect marketing and commercial opportunity in Tierra de Garcia.
Will Salomon Rondon succeed at Everton?