Jeffers Everton loan deal

Francis Jeffers today left Arsenal to join his old club Everton on loan for the rest of the season.

The move brings a temporary end to a frustrating Highbury career for the 22-year-old striker, who was signed by Arsenal from Everton for £7.5million in 2001.

It is understood Everton have an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season, with Jeffers costing around £5m.

He arrived at Arsenal as the supposed "fox in the box" but his time at Highbury was blighted by injury and frustration at a failure to secure a regular first-team place.

Jeffers was a victim of Arsenal's squad system which saw Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Sylvain Wiltord ahead of him in the pecking order.

Last season, despite forcing his way into Sven-Goran Eriksson's England squad and scoring on his debut against Australia, Jeffers started only two league games and was reserved by Arsene Wenger for Arsenal's FA Cup run.

He played in every round up to the Final, scoring three times, but was then left out when they faced Southampton in Cardiff.

His last appearance for Arsenal was in the FA Community Shield defeat by Manchester United in which he was sent off for kicking Phil Neville.

Jeffers is a close friend of Wayne Rooney - the pair talk daily - and has always said he would relish playing alongside him.