Pienaar always hoped to remain in the Premier League

Everton have completed a �2m permanent transfer for on-loan midfield man Steven Pienaar.

The 26-year-old South African international has agreed a three-year contract after a successful season at Goodison Park.

Pienaar had earlier expressed fears that the deal had stalled, but Everton boss David Moyes was always confident a deal was in place.

Moyes said: "Steven is one of the reasons our football has improved."

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He had been linked with Arsenal, Newcastle and Valencia but insisted he was happy to extend his stay at Goodison Park.

Pienaar, a product of the South African arm of Ajax's youth academy, has played 35 games this season scoring twice so far.