Everton manager David Moyes has admitted that he was reluctant to let Tim Iroegbunam leave the club, praising the midfielder’s qualities and character following his £13 million move to Hull City, Footynaija reports.
The 23-year-old joined the Tigers on transfer deadline day after Hull made him one of their primary targets following promotion to the Premier League.
Iroegbunam had established himself as a useful option at Everton, making 53 appearances for the Merseyside club and featuring regularly during the second half of last season under Moyes.
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His departure was therefore not an easy decision for the Scottish manager, who remains convinced that Hull have secured a valuable addition to their midfield.
“Yes, I certainly wasn’t in a hurry to let Tim go, that’s for sure,” Moyes told Hull Live.
“I think Hull have got a good player and they’ll see that in time.”
The Everton boss also praised Iroegbunam’s ability and personality, suggesting that his contribution went beyond what he offered on the pitch.
“I know he’s coming back (from injury) and he’s got some really good attributes. I liked him a lot, and more importantly, he was a brilliant boy as well, a great teammate, the players all liked him, so I could only speak really well about him.”
Iroegbunam’s move to Hull has, however, been interrupted by fitness problems.
The midfielder suffered an injury in August and subsequently faced concerns over a possible serious knee problem after picking up another knock during the Tigers’ visit to Newcastle United.
He recovered in time to face Everton on Sunday, coming off the bench to play the final 25 minutes of the 2-2 draw alongside Hidemasa Morita in midfield.
Although he looked short of sharpness, the appearance offered an encouraging step in his return to full fitness. He could now push for a starting place when Hull travel to Fulham on Saturday.
The former Aston Villa youngster is also eligible to represent Nigeria and has reportedly attracted the attention of Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle.
With Wilfred Ndidi approaching the latter stages of his international career, Iroegbunam could potentially emerge as a long-term midfield option for Nigeria.
However, he would still need to establish himself at Hull and demonstrate that he can consistently perform at the highest level.
