Post by Matt on Jun 28, 2008 0:53:54 GMT 7
Bolton Wanderers have signed the Sweden striker Johan Elmander from Toulouse in a transfer thought to be worth close to £10m. Elmander has signed a three-year contract at the Reebok Stadium, with the Norwegian international Daniel Braaten moving to France in a cash-plus-player deal.
The Bolton manager, Gary Megson, said he had been chasing the 27-year-old forward for over six months. "Johan is a player I have admired for a long time. He is a player who will get us goals and also create other opportunities for his team-mates,'' he said today.
Elmander started two of Sweden's three group games at Euro 2008 and has scored eleven goals in 38 appearances for his country. The imposing target man first made his name at Brondby in Denmark where he picked up league and cup winners' medals as well as being named club player of the year in 2004-5. His 22 goals in 58 games earned him a move to Toulouse in 2006. He memorably led them to Champions League qualification in 2007, netting a hat-trick in a 3-1 victory over Bordeaux on the final day of the season.
Elmander's transfer should eclipse the club record £8m Bolton paid Fenerbahçe for Nicolas Anelka in August 2006. Wanderers also spent over £5m bringing in Fabrice Muamba from Birmingham City this summer. Elmander's transfer signals the club's firm intention to invest in a team that struggled for Premier League survival last season. "I am still on the lookout for other players to boost the quality of our squad," Megson said.
Great signing for Bolton, Elmander must be crazy though. Just goes to show that players will go anywhere for money.
The Bolton manager, Gary Megson, said he had been chasing the 27-year-old forward for over six months. "Johan is a player I have admired for a long time. He is a player who will get us goals and also create other opportunities for his team-mates,'' he said today.
Elmander started two of Sweden's three group games at Euro 2008 and has scored eleven goals in 38 appearances for his country. The imposing target man first made his name at Brondby in Denmark where he picked up league and cup winners' medals as well as being named club player of the year in 2004-5. His 22 goals in 58 games earned him a move to Toulouse in 2006. He memorably led them to Champions League qualification in 2007, netting a hat-trick in a 3-1 victory over Bordeaux on the final day of the season.
Elmander's transfer should eclipse the club record £8m Bolton paid Fenerbahçe for Nicolas Anelka in August 2006. Wanderers also spent over £5m bringing in Fabrice Muamba from Birmingham City this summer. Elmander's transfer signals the club's firm intention to invest in a team that struggled for Premier League survival last season. "I am still on the lookout for other players to boost the quality of our squad," Megson said.
Great signing for Bolton, Elmander must be crazy though. Just goes to show that players will go anywhere for money.
