The 24-year-old's four-million-pound (8 million dollar) move comes just one day after the Blades' appeal over their relegation to the Championship was dismissed. Jagielka had a clause in his contract allowing him to leave if the club went down.

"When I played here last season the fans were fantastic and hopefully I'll get to run out sooner rather than later," he told Everton's website.

Middlesbrough, Wigan and Bolton were all interested in signing Jagielka, but the player made it clear from the start that Everton were his first choice, and the deal has only been held up while Sheffield United have been engaged in their legal battle with the Premier League.