Joleon Lescott Bio Send To Friend  

Everton manager David Moyes took a £5.5 million punt on Championship defender Lescott in August 2006 and it proved to be a gamble worth taking. At Goodison Park the former Wolves defender established himself as a top class Premier League performer and broke into the England national team, before forcing through a controversial £22 million move to Manchester City in August 2009.

Lescott's stock rose quickly on Merseyside as he carved out a reputation as a goalscoring left-back or centre-back, netting 14 Premier League goals for Everton in three seasons, including eight in the 2007-08 campaign, proving his worth at both ends of the pitch. His club exploits brought international recognition and Lescott made his senior debut, having represented England at Under-18, U-20, U-21 and B levels, under Steve McClaren against Estonia in October 2007. He made his first appearance under new manager Fabio Capello in March 2008 in a friendly against France.

With Lescott now at a club with a real possibility of breaking into the Premier League's established 'big four' and on the brink of becoming an England regular, the defender stands at a very important point in his career. The former Wolves trainee has met every challenge he has faced thus far and if he can establish himself at City, the 2010 World Cup awaits.

Strengths: A strong, fast and dependable centre-back, Lescott rarely loses concentration or finds himself muscled off the ball and can chip in with the odd goal or two.

Weaknesses: Lescott's lack of Champions League football and his nervy performance in England's costly 3-2 loss to Croatia during a Euro 2008 qualifier at Wembley have left question marks hanging over whether he can cut it at the highest level.

Career high: Joining Manchester City's mega-bucks revolution, along with star names such as Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor.

Career low: Being booed on his final game for Everton as the Toffees lost 6-1 to Arsenal on the opening day of the 2009-10 season.

Style: Aware, versatile, intelligent, a defender of excellent timing rather than blood and thunder.

Quotes: "In bringing Joleon to the club I feel we have recruited a defender of the very highest quality. He can play in a number of defensive positions, and I'm positive he will make a significant impact for us." Manchester City manager Mark Hughes, August 2009

Trivia: Lescott finished the 2007-08 season with eight goals and more impressively as the Premier League's finest finisher, with a phenomenal goals-to-shots ratio of 42.1%. To put that into perspective, the next best was Yakubu, lagging way behind with 28.3%.

Soccernet says: Has proved himself in the top half of the Premier League but still has to prove himself on the international stage.