Kone happy to be reunited with Martinez

New Everton signing Arouna Kone is looking forward to playing for manager Roberto Martinez again at Goodison Park.

The Ivorian forward followed the Spaniard from Wigan to Everton on Monday for a reported fee of £6.5 million, signing a three-year deal.

Kone moved to Wigan from Levante last year and scored 13 goals in 38 appearances in his first season of English football, but it was not enough to stop the club dropping into the Championship.

“I feel delighted. I’m really happy about joining this team,” he said.

“For me it is the fruition of work that has been going on for a month now. I’m really pleased to be here and I hope that everything goes well and I can have a great season for the club, just like I did last year with Wigan.

“It’s an honour to be back working with the manager once again. Last season he really helped me a lot.

“For my first season I did the absolute best I could, but I think that joining up with him (Martinez) at this club is like another dimension for me and I hope that I’m going to continue to improve alongside him.

“We’ll keep working hard to try and help the club achieve all of its goals.”

A major goal for Everton in the upcoming season will be winning a first major trophy since their 1995 FA Cup success.

Kone helped Wigan to victory in the same competition earlier this year, scoring two goals in the lead-up to the final, in which they beat Manchester City.

And he is confident about Everton’s hopes this season, and his ability to fire the Merseyside club to silverware.

“I’m really eager to do my best to try and win something again this season,” Kone said.

“I really believe in this team and I think we will have a great campaign next season. I can’t wait to make my debut for this club.

“I think that with the quality of squad Everton has, we will have a good season. I hope to score as many goals as I can next season.”