Alex Iwobi has posted a farewell message to Arsenal thanking the club and their fans following his £35million transfer deadline day move to Everton.

Iwovi, 23, completed his move from north London to Merseyside late on deadline day, signing a five-year contract at Goodison Park.

The deal was submitted before the 5pm deadline on Thursday but did not get confirmed until four hours later.

Iwobi joined Arsenal as a child while still in primary school, and went on to play 149 times for the Gunners as well as becoming a Nigeria international.

Iwobi posted a farewell message on Twitter on Friday evening, writing: "I grew up dreaming of playing for Arsenal, following in the footsteps of some of my hero's. I'm proud to say that @ 23 I've achieved one of my dreams.

"From playing for Arsenal kids to 149 senior appearances. It was an honour to play for the club I supported as a boy. I've enjoyed every minute of it.

"So many people to thank, far too many individual names to mention but I thank you all!

Read more Arsenal midfielder Iwobi joins Everton in £35m deal

"So many great moments, from scoring my first goal at the Emirates to scoring my last goal in Baku.

"You've all played a big part in my 17 fantastic years. Special thaks to the fans, my team mates, the support staff, my coaches Arsene Wenger and Unai Emery who put faith in me and gave me the opportunity to grow as a player and a man.

"BIG love to a special club. Arsenal will be forever in my heart. #Gunners #BIG172".

Everton manager Marco Silva said of Iwobi's arrival: "Alex was one of our main targets for this window and I believe he is a fantastic signing for Everton.

"He is a direct and skilful winger and attacking midfielder who always works very hard for his team.

In Pictures | Arsenal's summer transfer business 21 show all In Pictures | Arsenal's summer transfer business 1/21 Arsenal's summer business Unai Emery has been eager to boost his squad for a top-four push in the Premier League. Getty Images 2/21 IN - Nicolas Pepe (Lille, £72m) Arsenal FC via Getty Images 3/21 IN - Kieran Tierney (Celtic, £25m) Arsenal FC via Getty Images 4/21 IN - David Luiz (Chelsea, £8m) Arsenal FC via Getty Images 5/21 IN - William Saliba (Saint-Etienne, £27m, loaned back) Arsenal FC via Getty Images 6/21 IN - Gabriel Martinelli (Ituano, £6m) Arsenal FC via Getty Images 7/21 IN - Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid, loan) Getty Images 8/21 OUT - Aaron Ramsey (Juventus, free) AFP/Getty Images 9/21 OUT - Alex Iwobi (Everton, £35m) EPA 10/21 OUT - Laurent Koscielny (Bordeaux, £4.6m) Arsenal FC via Getty Images 11/21 OUT - David Ospina (Napoli, £5m) Getty Images 12/21 OUT - Petr Cech (retired) AFP/Getty Images 13/21 OUT - Danny Welbeck (released) Arsenal FC via Getty Images 14/21 OUT - Stephen Lichtsteiner (released) Getty Images 15/21 OUT - Krystian Bielik (Derby, undisclosed) Arsenal FC via Getty Images 16/21 OUT - Carl Jenkinson (Nottingham Forest, undisclosed) Arsenal FC via Getty Images 17/21 OUT - Takuma Asano (Partizan Belgrade, undisclosed) Getty Images 18/21 OUT - Xavier Amaechi (Hamburg, £2.25m) Bongarts/Getty Images 19/21 OUT - Eddie Nketiah (Leeds, loan) Getty Images 20/21 OUT - Henrikh Mkhitaryan (AS Roma, loan) EPA 21/21 OUT - Mohamed Elneny (Besiktas, loan) Elneny follows Nacho Monreal in leaving the Gunners before the European transfer window closes Arsenal FC via Getty Images 1/21 Arsenal's summer business Unai Emery has been eager to boost his squad for a top-four push in the Premier League. Getty Images 2/21 IN - Nicolas Pepe (Lille, £72m) Arsenal FC via Getty Images 3/21 IN - Kieran Tierney (Celtic, £25m) Arsenal FC via Getty Images 4/21 IN - David Luiz (Chelsea, £8m) Arsenal FC via Getty Images 5/21 IN - William Saliba (Saint-Etienne, £27m, loaned back) Arsenal FC via Getty Images 6/21 IN - Gabriel Martinelli (Ituano, £6m) Arsenal FC via Getty Images 7/21 IN - Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid, loan) Getty Images 8/21 OUT - Aaron Ramsey (Juventus, free) AFP/Getty Images 9/21 OUT - Alex Iwobi (Everton, £35m) EPA 10/21 OUT - Laurent Koscielny (Bordeaux, £4.6m) Arsenal FC via Getty Images 11/21 OUT - David Ospina (Napoli, £5m) Getty Images 12/21 OUT - Petr Cech (retired) AFP/Getty Images 13/21 OUT - Danny Welbeck (released) Arsenal FC via Getty Images 14/21 OUT - Stephen Lichtsteiner (released) Getty Images 15/21 OUT - Krystian Bielik (Derby, undisclosed) Arsenal FC via Getty Images 16/21 OUT - Carl Jenkinson (Nottingham Forest, undisclosed) Arsenal FC via Getty Images 17/21 OUT - Takuma Asano (Partizan Belgrade, undisclosed) Getty Images 18/21 OUT - Xavier Amaechi (Hamburg, £2.25m) Bongarts/Getty Images 19/21 OUT - Eddie Nketiah (Leeds, loan) Getty Images 20/21 OUT - Henrikh Mkhitaryan (AS Roma, loan) EPA 21/21 OUT - Mohamed Elneny (Besiktas, loan) Elneny follows Nacho Monreal in leaving the Gunners before the European transfer window closes Arsenal FC via Getty Images

"He is still young but already with a lot of top-level experience - 100 Premier League matches, more in Europe and many international games.

"It was important for me to have one more quality option for our attacking positions to add to what we have with Richarlison, Bernard and Theo Walcott.

"Alex fits exactly the profile of player I want in my model. He is hungry to join Everton and take the next step in his career, to help us compete with the strongest teams in the league and reach his potential at our club."

Additional reporting by the Press Association.