Everton have launched the biggest spending spree in their history by signing the Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and the Ajax captain Davy Klaassen in deals totalling £54m.

The two players both signed five-year contracts with the Goodison Park club on Thursday as Everton, funded by major shareholder Farhad Moshiri, moved swiftly to secure two of Ronald Koeman’s main summer targets. Pickford will cost an initial £25m with add-ons taking his fee to £30m, making the 23-year-old Everton’s record transfer and the most expensive British goalkeeper, while the Holland midfielder has been signed for £24m.

“I spoke a few weeks ago with Ronald Koeman about Everton,” Klaassen said. “I wanted to come here and check if this was the right club for me and since I came here I feel so happy. It’s a great club.

“The moment that I spoke with the manager directly I got a good feeling. He’s an honest guy, we talked about the club, about the way he wants to play and that gave me a positive feeling.

“I talked to him about the club and everything we want to achieve and he was really positive. It’s difficult to leave Ajax but I think this is a good step for me now and I’m really looking forward to my time here.”

Pickford had wanted to delay a decision on his future until after the European Under-21 Championship, which commences for England against Sweden on Friday, but Everton wasted no time in making him the third most expensive goalkeeper of all time. Arsenal had also been linked with the boyhood Sunderland fan, the club’s most saleable asset after relegation to the Championship. Only Ederson, who this month joined Manchester City from Benfica, and Juventus’s Gianluigi Buffon have moved in that position for higher fees.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Jordan Pickford is unveiled as an Everton player in Kielce, Poland, where he is preparing for the Under-21 European Championship with England. Photograph: Everton FC/Getty Images

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Pickford said: “Last season was my first in the Premier League so to get this opportunity with Everton now, to be able to go forward with my career and show everyone what I can do with Everton is unbelievable. It’s a great club, a massive club and I think it’s a great opportunity and the right time for me to come to Everton and show what I can do.”

Koeman was anxious to sign a new No1 following indifferent campaigns from Joel Robles and Maarten Stekelenburg last season , and to find more productivity. To that end, Everton secured Klaassen for the joint third highest transfer fee in their history only a few hours after completing the Pickford deal.

Klaassen scored 14 league goals for Ajax last season as they finished second to Feyenoord in the Eredivisie and reached the Europa League final. Koeman said: “He’s a player who is only 24 but has a lot of experience and is a leader on the pitch. He has already captained Ajax for two seasons and that shows you the type of person he is. He is hardworking, likes to press and, of course, will give us more creativity and goals. It is another major signing for Everton and I am really happy we have been able to complete the deal so early in the summer.”

Everton are also awaiting a decision from Málaga’s striker Sandro Ramírez, who held talks with club officials on Sunday. The Burnley defender Michael Keane and Swansea City’s Gylfi Sigurdsson are also in Everton’s sights. Koeman said he is sure Pickford will prove to be a “significant signing”. He said: “Jordan is a very talented young professional who also has a real hunger for success and that’s important for us as we now look to make further progress in the seasons ahead.”