LONDON: South African international midfielder Steven Pienaar has completed a permanent transfer back to former club Everton from Tottenham on a four-year deal for 4.5 million pounds ($7 million), the Merseyside club announced on Tuesday.

Pienaar, 30, left Goodison Park for Spurs in January 2011 but failed to impress in North London and started just five league games before returning to Everton on loan in January. On his return to Everton, Pienaar scored four goals in 14 league games to help them finish seventh, and boss David Moyes stated his desire to re-sign the South African earlier this month.

“We are keen on Pienaar and I hope in time we would be able to conclude that deal,” he said at the time.

“I don't know if the situation has changed (with Andre Villas-Boas coming in as new Spurs manager) but Steven has made it very clear he wants to come back here and my understanding is that hasn't changed.

“My next job in the coming weeks is to get Steven Pienaar here as well.”

Pienaar made no secret of his desire to return to Merseyside and Tim Cahill's move to Major League Soccer outfit the New York Red Bulls paved the way for the South African's comeback.

He told evertontv:

“I am happy to be here. It took a few weeks to sort out but I am delighted to be back and excited to play for Everton.

“There was no doubt in my mind that I would be back here. At the end of the season I told the manager how I felt and I am happy now it is all done.”

The player, who made his name in Europe with Ajax, originally joined the Toffees in July 2007 on loan from Borussia Dortmund before that deal was made permanent a year later.