LIVERPOOL, England (AP) -- United States goalkeeper Tim Howard will end his association with Manchester United and move to Everton permanently after the season.

Howard, who has been on loan to Everton since losing his place at United to Edwin van der Sar, will have a five-year contract with the Toffees that will keep him at Goodison Park until 2012.

"The club share my ambition, that is for sure. The manager does and so do the fans," Howard said Wednesday. "I was drawn to the club for a number of reasons and the players in the dressing room are one of them."

Howard has made 27 appearances for Everton with 11 shutouts.

"We are delighted to have signed Tim on a permanent basis," Everton manager David Moyes said. "He has come in this season and proved he is a good keeper and we are pleased to have secured him."

After moving from the MetroStars in Major League Soccer in July 2003, Howard played 77 games for United. But he lost his starting place to Van der Sar last season and only played six games -- including just once in the Premier League.

Howard was on the United States team for the 2006 World Cup but didn't play. He has made 16 appearances for the U.S., most recently in last week's 2-0 victory over Mexico.

Although the transfer window closed Jan. 31, Premier League rules allow loan deals to be converted to permanent ones between the same two clubs.

There seemed little chance of Howard going back to Old Trafford. United has Poland goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak and new England international Ben Foster as backup to Van der Sar, although Foster is currently on loan to Watford.