• LA Galaxy and USA striker to arrive early next month • 'Landon has pace and is a good finisher,' says Moyes

Everton have signed the Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan in a loan deal from January, the manager, David Moyes, has confirmed.

The agreement came on the day that the 27-year-old player signed a four-year contract with his American club, who had made it known that they are willing for him to leave temporarily in the new year.

Moyes said: "Landon Donovan will join Everton. It is all agreed and done now and hopefully he will be with us on January 1 or 2.

"Hopefully he is the first of two or three we want to bring in in January. We need to strengthen our squad to make sure we are not in a situation like we have at the moment with so many injuries.

"Landon will certainly add pace, he is a good finisher. He was voted best player, yet again, in the American league and is captain of the USA national team.

"I need players who can hit the ground running, who I think can go into the team quite quickly and make an impact. With his experience and the goals he has scored, I am hoping he will be able to do that."

Donovan, who is keen to move to Europe to maintain his match fitness ahead of the World Cup next summer, said this week: "You want to go where you are wanted and Everton have been incredibly professional and expressed their interest and I feel that is a place where I would feel very comfortable."

The Galaxy's coach, Bruce Arena, said this week before the deal was finalised: "Everton is a club with a small roster and a congested schedule over the next few weeks and months. It's a great fit for Landon and the clubs have an understanding of the agreement."