Second Dier Loan Agreed

Centre-half Eric Dier will return to Everton on a second loan deal for the upcoming season, after terms were agreed with his parent club Sporting Lisbon.

The 17 year old defender spent the second half of last season at Everton on loan from Sporting. In his first spell on Merseyside he featured regularly for Everton's U18 side, scoring in a 4-0 victory over rivals Liverpool and helping the young Toffees to the national academy league title.

Born in Cheltenham, Dier moved to Portugal as a 7-year-old after his mother got a job working in Lisbon for the 2004 European Championships. He signed professional terms with Sporting in April 2010 amid reported interest from Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United. In January 2011 he moved to Merseyside on a short-term loan deal, with Sporting's website saying that deal was "an opportunity for the athlete to grow in a more competitive and demanding environment."

All parties have agreed new terms and Dier will begin pre-season training with Everton once all necessary paperwork has been completed.