Everton's teenage England striker Wayne Rooney has handed in a transfer request, the English Premier League club announced on Friday.
Everton turned down two bids estimated at 20 million pounds ($35.94 million) for the 18-year-old from both Newcastle and Manchester United earlier this week as the transfer deadline looms next Tuesday.
Rooney, who stamped his mark on the international game at Euro 2004, told Everton's website: "This has been one of the hardest decisions of my life but I feel the time is now right for me to move forward with my career.
"The Euros were a fantastic experience for me, it made me realise I could play at the highest level.
"To do that, I need to be with a club that is playing in Europe every year. I hope the Everton fans can come to understand my decision and I hope the transfer fee Everton receive will help the club move forward.
"The Everton fans have always been fantastic in their support of me. I hope they respect my decision and I also hope that some day in the future I could be welcomed back to watch the team I have supported since boyhood."
Everton said Rooney submitted his transfer request after telling manager David Moyes at the team's Bellefield training ground on Friday that he no longer wanted to play for the club.
With a move from Goodison Park now inevitable, the battle to sign the most exciting prospect in British football in nearly 15 years will enter its decisive final days.
Newcastle are reported to have tabled an improved offer of 23.5 million pounds, while Manchester United are also expected to improve their bid for the England striker.
UNITED DIALOGUE
United manager Alex Ferguson told reporters at the Macnhester club's training ground on Friday: "It's as it was yesterday. (United chief executive) David Gill has been in dialogue with (Everton chairman) Bill Kenwright."
But Ferguson added: "It only takes a second to say 'yes'.
"The difficulty is getting the medicals but at the moment nothing is at the stage where we are talking about that.
"We are waiting for an agreement with Everton before we can do anything else."
Newcastle were also hoping for news from Everton on their improved offer.
Club chairman Freddy Shepherd told Sky Sports News: "We're still waiting to hear from our friends Everton to see what's happening...we've put the bid in, we're waiting to hear."
Asked what it would mean to land the striker, Shepherd said: "It would be like another Alan Shearer arriving on Tyneside."
