Alex Nyarko actually arrived at Goodison Park amid much optimism having been likened to Patrick Viera in both stature and technique, with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger rumoured to be interested at the time, and former midfielder Olivier Dacourt recommending him to manager Walter Smith. Signed from Ligue 1 side Lens for £4.5m in 2000 and signing a five-year contract, despite rumours suggesting he had only been given a four-year work permit. The midfielder went on to make just 33 appearances in four seasons with the club, before being released by new manager David Moyes following four years of abject performances and a deal that backfired spectacularly for the club. In one the more bizarre moments of his Everton career, he was confronted by an invading fan in a 4-1 defeat to Arsenal, with the pitch invader asking to swap shirts with the Ghanian, such was the lack of effort he was showing for the Toffees. He immediately asked to be substituted and transferred from the club, threatening to quit football altogether. He eventually got his wish, joining French sides Monaco and PSG in separate loan deals before eventually returning to Everton, where his contract was not renewed because of work permit issues.
