Everton have completed the signing of Crystal Palace’s England striker Andrew Johnson in a deal worth £8.6m.

The fee beats their previous record of £6m paid by boss David Moyes to sign James Beattie from Southampton.

Everton confirmed on Tuesday that Johnson, 25, had passed a medical and he will be unveiled at a news conference on Wednesday.

Johnson, who is on World Cup standby duty for England, told the club website: “Hopefully I can score goals for Everton.

“I’m looking forward to giving 110% in every game I play.”

A bidding war for the services of Johnson had taken place during the last two weeks, with Wigan and Bolton also having bids accepted.

But the former Birmingham striker was desperate to join Everton.

He added: “I find the prospect of playing for one of the biggest names in British football impossible to resist.

“I believe Everton will afford me the best opportunity to fulfil my twin ambitions of winning major honours and representing England again at senior level.

“I would like to thank both Wigan and Bolton, firstly for having sufficient faith in my abilities to lodge a bid and secondly for being so courteous and professional during the course of our negotiations,” Johnson added.