Fee – Free Transfer

Primary Position – Centre Forward

Last season’s form – Games 26 / 13 goals

Born in Caracas, Venezuela in 1989, Rondón made his debut in the Venezuelan Primera División at the age of 17 for Aragua FC and scored 15 goals over 49 appearances. He then moved to La Liga and plied his trade at Las Palmas and Málaga where he scored 35 goals over 113 appearances. A move to Russia followed and he made a total of 73 appearances for Rubin Kazan and Zenit Saint Petersburg, scoring 33 goals. West Bromwich Albion signed there striker in 2015 for a club-record fee of £12 million and he was a key player for the Baggies, scoring 24 goals in 108 matches. He also enjoyed a loan spell at Newcastle in 2018 when Benitez was manager and the Spaniard often used him as a target man. He scored 11 goals for the Magpies and was named their player of the year. He followed Benitez to the Chinese Super League by joining Dalian Professional FC and scored 14 goals in 27 appearances. A short loan spell at CSKA Moscow followed before Everton acquired his services on a Free Transfer in the 2021/22 Transfer Window.

Benitez often sets up his teams with a target man up top and Rondón has delivered for the Spaniard over the last few years. Not just a goal scorer, his hold up play also benefits others around him and he often played with a support striker. His profile is very similar to that of Calvert-Lewin so it remains to be seen how he slots into this Everton team. When the Englishman is fit, he is clear first choice so it is likely that Rondón has been signed largely as a backup but he could also come on as an impact substitute late on in games. A wait and watch approach is suggested initially.