Premier League outcast joins Italian Serie A side

Kevin Mirallas will join Fiorentina on a season-long loan from Everton subject to the completion of a medical.

The Serie A side confirmed the deal includes an option for the move to be made permanent at the conclusion of the campaign. Mirallas, 30, made five Premier League appearances last term and was handed a new contract at Goodison Park in December, only to be temporarily shipped out to Olympiacos the following month.

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He was left out of Belgium’s World Cup squad by former Toffees boss Roberto Martinez and has been unable to force his way into new manager Marco Silva’s plans.

Mirallas started his professional career in France with Lille and Saint-Étienne before moving to Greece with Olympiacos in 2010. Mirallas enjoyed success during his time at Olympiacos scoring 34 goals in 52 league games, including being the league’s top scorer in his second season with 20 goals in 25 games. His impressive performances attracted the attention of Everton who signed him in the summer of 2012 for £6 million.

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Mirallas has over 50 caps for Belgium since his senior debut in 2007. He has represented Belgium at various youth levels and has featured for them at senior level at the 2008 Olympics and the 2014 FIFA World Cup; the latter of which he helped his team reach the quarter-finals.

In August 2012, Mirallas joined English Premier League club Everton for a reported fee of £6 million. He made his debut as a second-half substitute during a 3–1 league win over Aston Villa at Villa Park in which he had a headed goal disallowed due to it being ruled offside. In his first start four days later, Mirallas scored twice and provided two assists as Everton won 5–0 against Leyton Orient in the second round of the League Cup.

He scored his first league goal on 22 September 2012, in a 3–0 away win against Swansea Cityafter heading in his initial effort which rebounded off the underside of the bar. Mirallas suffered a number of injuries which limited his number of appearances during the middle part of the season. He made a number of brief cameos, notably against Tottenham Hotspur in December. Mirallas’ next goal came against Oldham Athletic in a 3–1 win on 26 February 2013 in the fifth round of the FA Cup. He then scored again, scoring his second league goal of the season against Reading in a 3–1 win on 2 March 2013. Image result for mirallas goal

He scored his first brace in David Moyes’ last home game in charge of Everton in a 2–0 win against West Ham United. On 7 January 2018, Mirallas agreed to return to his former club Olympiacos on loan until the end of the 2017–18 season. The club do not have an option to buy Mirallas as part of the agreement. On 16 April 2018, Mirallas rifled home a stunning strike from the edge of the penalty area on the stroke of half-time, in a emphatic 5–1 home win against Kerkyra F.c On 4 May 2018 his loan spell was terminated by mutual consent, due to Everton’s high asking purchase price and Mirallas’ overall below-par performances over the course of his Olympiacos tenure.

Mirallas was deployed as a centre forward for Olympiacos but since his move to Everton he has been deployed mainly as a winger or a free roaming forward. He is known for his pace, close ball control, passing ability and proficiency in one-on-one situations.

Mirallas was part of the Belgian squad which reached the quarter-finals at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, making his tournament debut in the second group match, a 1–0 win over Russia in the Maracanã, as a 75th-minute substitute for Dries Mertens.

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In a game of few opportunities, Mirallas hit the post with Belgium’s first shot on target, with another substitute Divock Origi scoring the only goal two minutes from full-time.

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