David Moyes has confessed that he watched Joleon Lescott play 24 times before he decided to sign him for Everton.
The former England international signed for Everton from Wolves in 2006 for around £4million, becoming a mainstay in the Toffees side under the Scotsman.
However the former Manchester United and West Ham manager initially wasn’t sure whether Lescott could cut it in the Premier League, and so Moyes took his time deciding whether to buy the centre-back.
Lescott eventually left Everton for Manchester City in a deal worth £22million, where he would go on to win an FA Cup, an EFL Cup and two Premier League titles at the Etihad.
Reflecting on his inital trepidation, Moyes spoke on BBC Radio Scotland (via HITC), saying:
We took Joleon from Wolves. I tell people the story, I watched Joleon Lescott 24 times before I made a decision on him. Myself, never-mind by staff.
I kept watching him, he cannot do this, he cannot do that. I’m watching him, and I’m watching him.
I was having to make sure the money I spent was spent wisely and I was trying to get it right.
And I took Joleon Lescott, who went on to become a great player. England international.
Went on to win league titles with Manchester City, so Lescott would be right up there [in my best signings], he was an excellent player.
Read Everton Verdict
These type of stories are always interesting to me looking back, because Joleon was such an important player for Everton for several seasons, that it does make you question how Moyes couldn’t have seen his talented immediately.
That being said, that is the benefit of hindsight. Either way, Moyes ultimately made the best decision for Lescott and for Everton, with the club benefitting immediately from a football standpoint and after three years from a financial standpoint.
