Niels Nkounkou has joined St Etienne on a permanent basis from Everton.
The French club have completed the transfer after triggering the clause they placed in the agreement to take the defender on loan back in January. They confirmed the news on Thursday evening.
Nkounkou joined the Ligue 2 outfit during the January transfer window after spending the first half of the season on loan at Cardiff City. The 22-year-old also spent last season on loan at Standard Liege.