WEST BROM HAVE confirmed the signing of French striker Nicolas Anelka on a one-year deal with a further year’s option.
Anelka will move to The Hawthorns from Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua having spent time on loan at Juventus too.
The 34-year-old has had a hugely successful career since joining Paris Saint-Germain at the age of 16, having won 17 different trophies with five different clubs.
The signing of Anelka is something of a transfer coup for West Brom, with head coach Steve Clarke delighted to have signed a player of the Frenchman’s calibre to work alongside Ireland forward Shane Long.
Clarke told the club’s official website: “We are missing a bit of firepower from last year – we’re trying to put that right – and to kick off with the signing of Nicolas at the start of the summer is a great boost for everyone at the club.
“The sole focus at the club is trying to build on what we did last season. “The more quality players you can bring to the club the better – and no-one can question Nicolas’ quality.
“He’s a player I have worked with before as I was at Chelsea when they signed him. “He’s got a great work ethic, looks after himself and is a consummate professional.
“If you add that to the obvious talent he’s got I think he can prove to be a really top signing for the club. “His experience with some of the top clubs in England and Europe will stand the group in good stead. “Hopefully he will be able to inspire the other players to even greater heights than we managed to achieve last year.”
Despite his international career effectively ending with an 18-month ban in 2010, he notched up 69 international caps and was part of his country’s monumental Euro 2000 victory.
However, the Premier League is where he has enjoyed the most success having amassed 124 goals in 352 matches. In his four years with Chelsea, which ended in 2012, he collected the golden boot once, as well as a Premier League title, and the FA Cup twice.
