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Nicolas Anelka: West Brom complete signing of veteran striker

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments166

Nicolas Anelka

French striker Nicolas Anelka has joined West Brom on a one-year deal.

The 34-year-old, who has already played in the Premier League for five different teams, spent the latter half of last season at Juventus after leaving Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua.

Since leaving Chelsea in 2012, he scored three in 22 games for Shanghai and none in three for Juventus.

Anelka won Premier League titles with Arsenal and Chelsea and, in 2000, the Champions League with Real Madrid.

He has scored more than 100 league goals in England and won the Golden Boot in 2008-09 while at Chelsea.

"We are missing a bit of firepower from last year, and to kick off with the signing of Nicolas at the start of the summer is a great boost for everyone at the club," said manager Steve Clarke.

"The more quality players you can bring to the club the better, and no-one can question Nicolas' quality."

Anelka is the first signing of the summer for West Brom, who will have the option of extending his contract for another season.

The Frenchman began his career at Paris St-Germain before moving to Arsenal in 1997, helping Arsene Wenger's side win a league and FA Cup Double in 1997-98.

But after a protracted transfer saga, he joined Real Madrid in 1999 for a fee reported to be £23.5m.

Despite enjoying European success, he did not settle at the Bernabeu and returned to PSG in 2000 before being loaned to Liverpool for the 2001-02 season.

A £13m transfer to Manchester City followed in 2002 but three years later he was on the move once again, with Turkish club Fenerbahce his next destination.

He returned to England to sign for Bolton for a club record £8m fee in August 2006 before Chelsea paid £15m for him in January 2008.

There he formed an effective partnership with Ivory Coast international Didier Drogba and helped the Blues win the Premier League in 2009-10, and two FA Cups.

Anelka, who has won 69 caps for France, left Stamford Bridge to join Shanghai Shenhua in January 2012, returning to Europe to sign a short-term deal with Juventus earlier this year.

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166 comments

  • Comment posted by Glad All Over - CPFC, at 00:11 5 Jul 2013

    Finally, a role model for Peter Odemwingie.

  • Comment posted by charlessy, at 22:38 4 Jul 2013

    Very astute signing for West Brom. Quite a good replacement for Lukaku. Experienced and knows where the back of the net is.

  • Comment posted by mac_abre, at 22:31 4 Jul 2013

    Good Luck Anelka, you've somehow got that evergreen element, few footballers have, always a dangerous forward, and well done joining West Brom, a true good footballing side. I'll never forget what you did for Arsenal. Good to see you back in the Prem.

  • Comment posted by U15756024, at 09:38 5 Jul 2013

    Sorry but people are saying thanks for what he did at Arsenal.... May I remind you when he was slating all English men? Said that we should all go to hell and that our country is awful.... Remember that? May of been in 1999 but I don't forget.

  • Comment posted by Dos Cervezas, at 05:29 5 Jul 2013

    Excellent signing by WBA and Steve Clarke. Anelka was and is quality and at 34 is still fully capable of delivering in the top flight. A lot of posts on here questioning his attitude. He may have had some problems in his early days but his attitude at Chelsea was never in question and I'm sure Steve being manager played a big part in bringing him to the club. Hope you have another great season!

  • Comment posted by U13892378, at 11:00 5 Jul 2013

    #134
    'What happened to unearthing a gem, or developing a youth player?'

    Because when they get to about 18 and show a glimmer of promise a bigger club will step in and take them off you for peanuts.

  • Comment posted by Coolica1, at 22:48 4 Jul 2013

    Him and Shane Long could form an interesting partnership that could keep them as a top half team next season. Good luck to him.

  • Comment posted by Dudarben, at 11:48 5 Jul 2013

    Fair play west brom just don't let him take penaltys. Whhheyyy 2008 remember.

  • Comment posted by Seriously, at 10:59 5 Jul 2013

    More clubs than Jack Nicklaus.

  • Comment posted by U15549952, at 10:13 5 Jul 2013

    Bearing in mind how "high maintenance" Anelka and his cohorts are, after WBA having to endure the idiotic Odemwingay-this seems like inviting trouble....

  • Comment posted by U15088021, at 23:49 4 Jul 2013

    @55.firstoldmen

    Newcastle fan I assume, can't believe any Liverpool fan would say that. I suppose he's better in the air than Papis Cisse.

  • Comment posted by U15088021, at 23:33 4 Jul 2013

    @44.gmt123

    Yet West Ham are happy to pay Andy Carrol £100k a week for 5 years. Either big Sam has lost the plot or the decisions weren't his.

  • Comment posted by U15067003, at 23:26 4 Jul 2013

    38.Ruud van Wolfswinkel
    13 Minutes ago
    West Brom over achieved last season, I felt. With Anelka arriving a mid-table finish realistically beckons. At 34 he can do a job but he won't pull up any tree's.

    ---------
    Do you suggest they shoulda bought Hulk?

  • Comment posted by TheLittlePea, at 22:56 4 Jul 2013

    FACT: Nicolas Anelka has now signed for more clubs (205) than he has career goals (204).

  • Comment posted by U15642084, at 22:43 4 Jul 2013

    @WPO,

    He's one of the top 20 all time Premier League goal scorers. I don't think "journeyman striker" is the right description.

    120 total EPL goals, 0.36 goals per game average, and won the Golden Boot in 2009.

  • Comment posted by U15732809, at 13:59 5 Jul 2013

    Can imagine that having signed Anelka, that Nigerian striker is worried about holding his starting place up front. Don't worry though, I guess they can still play him On-da-wing-ie.

  • Comment posted by Baron von Gammon, at 11:42 5 Jul 2013

    More contracts than a mafia hitman

  • Comment posted by fireyMoosse, at 11:28 5 Jul 2013

    I can honestly say, this is the start of the downward spiral for WBA.

    We now have two players who will constantly upset the dressing room harmony in the big sulk and Odem, and after JP's (our chairman) comments last week about our club being nothing more tha a 'mid table' championship side, and contemplating shutiing down our youth academy, just what is going on.....

  • Comment posted by Tony, at 11:25 5 Jul 2013

    Respect Nicolas....

    He reminds me of the footballing version of an IT Contractor.....
    Available to do 1 year or 18 month contract, throughout Europe, speciality, not a programmer or developer, but scoring goals!! And of course like any good contractor he has an impressive CV, working for some of the biggest around Europe.!!
    Good luck mate.

  • Comment posted by cienfuegos, at 10:59 5 Jul 2013

    I suppose he had to go somewhere. Always be remembered for his part in the WC. The French National Coach spoke highly of him at the time ahem. He's now three pronged, over rated, attitude problem and past his best.
    At least it's only for a year.

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