Andre Gomes has admitted he is 'enjoying' this season in France with Lille as he prepares to return to Everton once his loan spell ends at the end of the campaign.
The 29-year-old joined Everton permanently from Barcelona in 2019 following a successful loan spell the year prior. However, Gomes found himself out of the team last season before joining Lille on loan.
Lille do not have an option to make Gomes' loan move permanent from Everton in the summer so a return to Finch Farm will happen as club, Blues boss Sean Dyche and the player himself work out what comes next.
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Gomes, whose five-year contract at Goodison Park runs until the summer of 2024, was interviewed by the Ligue 1 official website about his time with Lille and said: "I’m really enjoying this season in France. There is a very good atmosphere in this team. This arrival took place on the last day of the transfer window and even in the very last minutes. I think in the last five minutes before closing! I needed change and a new challenge to prove to myself that I was still capable.
“And Lille opened its doors to me. Coach Paulo Fonseca was important in this choice, as were former teammates, such as Jose Fonte, for example. This allowed me to quickly get here.
“With Paulo Fonseca, we share the same vision of football. The confidence he gave me by giving me minutes of play was decisive. It allowed me to prove myself again and feel comfortable. To no longer feel upset because I was on the bench.”
Last month Gomes claimed he was in the dark about what the future held for him. “I have no idea (what comes next)," he said "At the end of the season, we will see. I want Lille to qualify for Europe and Everton to finish in a good position."
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