Everton have signed prolific striker Jermaine Beckford.

The 26-year old frontman has penned a four-year deal at Goodison Park after being released from his contract with Leeds United last week.

Scorer of 31 goals last season, Beckford had been linked with several top-flight sides but Everton moved quickly to secure his signature.

He passed a medical at Finch Farm and will join his new team-mates when they reconvene after the summer break.

The London-born centre-forward was a massive success during his three-year stay at Elland Road - scoring 31 goals last season to help fire the club to promotion, including the winning strike in the crucial last game against Bristol Rovers and, of course, he knocked Manchester United out of the FA Cup at Old Trafford.

He was subsequently named as the League One Player of the Year, an accolade he also collected in 2008.

Beckford began his career as a youngster at Chelsea but failed to break into the first team and after being released from Stamford Bridge he drifted into non-league football with Wealdstone.

His sensational form soon attracted Football League scouts and he joined Leeds United in March 2006, where, after loan spells at Carlisle and Scunthorpe, he established himself as a goalscorer of genuine quality.

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