Everton Bid Cahill Adieu and Welcome Steven Naismith

Tim Cahill has completed a shock move to Major League Soccer (MLS) stalwarts New York Red Bulls, in a quest for more first team football. Cahill will join Arsenal legend Thierry Henry at his new club.

"Everton have agreed with Major League Soccer (MLS) that Tim Cahill can be transferred to the New York Red Bulls. Tim, 32, will move to the Red Bulls for a nominal fee, subject to agreeing personal terms and passing a medical. He will travel to the US in the next few days," a statement issued by the English club's official Web site read.

Nominally an attacking midfielder, Cahill could (and did, on several occasions) play as a striker and the Australian international has been an integral part of Everton's setup, ever since he joined Goodison Park eight years ago. Cahill transferred from Championship side Millwall for £1.5m and has made 278 appearances for the club, scoring 68 goals along the way. He has 55 caps for Australia, with an impressive return of 24 goals.

Unfortunately, for the player and the fans, Cahill's departure from Goodison Park was on a sour note. The player was sent off in his last competitive game for the club - against Newcastle United - after a spat with French midfielder Yohan Cabaye. Although Cahill later apologised, Everton's appeal against a three-match ban was rejected. Had he stayed, Cahill would have missed the first three games of Everton's 2012/13 campaign.

In With The New

Meanwhile, Everton have confirmed the signing of Scottish club Rangers' striker Steven Naismith on a free transfer. The deal had actually been agreed quite some time ago but administrative concerns had forced delays in announcing the four year deal. In any case, the new signing has already found favour with French defender Sylvain Distin, who pointed out that the club suffered from a lack of goals last season but hoped that would be remedied with Naismith partnering Croatian striker NikicaJelavić up front.

"We have done a few training sessions together and he has shown us he has got some really good qualities as a player. He will be a good addition to the squad. We have only got a small squad so any player of his quality will add a lot to the squad and can only be good," the former Manchester City player said to Sky Sports, adding, "We had a great defensive record (last season) and were probably the second or third best defense in the league. We scored goals at the end of the season when we got our strikers and we finished well."

South African Comes Back Home

Finally, Everton are reportedly planning a swoop for wantaway Spurs midfielder Steven Pienaar. The 30 year old South African international spent four seasons with David Moyes' side (from 2007 to 2011) before transferring to White Hart Lane. However, he failed to establish himself there and was loaned back to Everton, where he once again prospered. A fee of about £5m has been suggested.

"I think we are much closer to Pienaar and hopefully in time I will have something, but I don't quite have it yet," Goal.com quoted Moyes as saying.