Baines eyeing Europe with Everton

Leighton Baines believes joining Everton will take his career on to a higher level.  The 22-year-old left-back completed his £5million move from Wigan today, and has already set his sights on playing consistently in Europe.

And the England under-21 defender believes performing well for a top-six side will improve his chances of becoming a full international.  Baines will not make his debut against his former club on Saturday at Goodison Park because of a hamstring injury.

But the Kirkby-born Everton fan - who also turned down a move to Roy Keane's Sunderland - cannot wait to get his new career up and running, particularly in the Uefa Cup.

"Europe is always something you are looking for as a player, and something I am happy about because you need that European experience to help you progress onto the next level," he said.

"Everton had a good season last time out, the lads did really well so hopefully we can build on that, get into Europe again and have a decent European campaign."

Baines agreed personal terms at the weekend and his arrival was confirmed today when he signed a five-year deal following a successful medical.

Moyes said: "We are pleased to have him. It is a signing for now and it is also a signing for the future. Leighton is someone we have been after for a long time and he is someone who will give good competition to our squad.

"We see him as a left-back. We already have Nuno Valente to play there and Joleon Lescott can cover in that position, but we really want him (Lescott) to be a central defender.

"We needed to add to our squad after we sold Gary Naysmith to Sheffield United. Leighton is a young player and he fits in with our policy of trying to buy good British players if we can.

"And he is a big Evertonian. We have been impressed by him and the reports that we have had about him over the past 12 months have been good.

"He really came to prominence last season and has done well in the Premier League and at the European under-21 Championships, so that was a big factor."