Everton signed former Liverpool goalkeeper Andy Lonergan for the remainder of this season as Rafa Benitez continues to bring more former Liverpool talent over to his new club.

He adds some depth behind the likes of Jordan Pickford and Asmir Begovic.

Lonergan has played for Preston, Leeds, and Bolton throughout his career. He has also featured for clubs like Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Middlesbrough.

“We have an injury to [Harry] Tyrer, the young keeper, and then we signed Andy Lonergan as a backup,” Benitez said. “He is a player that can give us some experience because we needed to sort out this problem just in case. So we have a new signing – but it is a player that maybe nobody was expecting.”

From a managerial, and fan perspective, the signing makes sense given Lonergan is both familiar and accepting of his backup role.

He becomes the first ex-Liverpool player since 2006 to join Everton.

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In other related news with Everton, Benitez said recently midfielder James Rodriguez, the 30-year-old Colombian international, remains in the manager’s plans to be featured for Everton.

Rodriguez was not on the pitch last weekend vs Southampton due to coronavirus complications.

Some other rumors have also been floating around forward Moise Kean who may be moving away from Everton before the month is over.

“Until the end of August, until the last day, the last minute, [there will be] a lot of speculation,” Benitez said.