Andy Carroll completes surprise move to fourth-tier side as ex ...
Few would have predicted Andy Carroll's next career move when he joined Liverpool for £35million in 2011.
Once a highly sought-after striker, the 35-year-old has dropped down the football pyramid in recent years, and he will now ply his trade in the fourth tier of French football.
3
Bordeaux have confirmed the signing of Carroll on social media, writing: "Welcome Andy Carroll. The club is delighted to welcome the England international striker. He has a wealth of high-level experience with almost 450 professional games, making him an ideal addition to Bordeaux's attack."
Historically one of France's biggest clubs, the six-time Ligue 1 champions were relegated to the fourth tier after declaring bankruptcy in July, and lost their professional status.
But Carroll, who was capped nine times by England, appears undeterred by this and is now poised to head to the Championnat National 2 side.
The former Newcastle and Liverpool striker has been persuaded to join Bordeaux by the current Amiens' sporting director, John Williams.
Despite still holding his position at the Ligue 2 outfit, Williams has reportedly been involved at Bordeaux this summer, helping them to rebuild a new squad to compete in their new league.
And having previously convinced Carroll to make the move to Amiens from Reading last summer, Williams looks set to do the same again.
Should he make the move, the former giants would mark the eighth club the Englishman has played for in his career.
And while the new league is composed mainly of semi-professional and amateur teams, Carroll would be taking to the field in a 42,000-capacity stadium - a marked improvement on Amiens' 12,097 seats.
Having failed to make an impact in the French second tier, with four goals in 31 appearances, the Englishman's likely next destination is a far cry from the heights he hit early on in his playing days.
After making his first-team debut for Newcastle aged just 17, the academy graduate went on to make a name for himself at St James' Park.
3
3
The 6ft 4in frontman netted 11 goals in 20 Premier League games in the first half of the 2010/11 campaign, earning him a January move to Liverpool for a then-record fee for a British player.
Carroll's form also saw him receive international recognition, making his England debut in November 2020, before going on to score once for the Three Lions at Euro 2012.
Unfortunately, persistent injury and fitness troubles hampered his progress and he was unable to rediscover his earlier form at Anfield, being ultimately sold to West Ham in 2012.
Lyon wonderkid Ernest Nuamah impresses in pre-season game against Arsenal
It was a similar story in east London for Carroll, who found the net 34 times in 142 games before returning to Newcastle in 2018.
A move back to his first club did little to reignite his spark in front of goal, scoring just once in two years, before spells in the EFL with Reading and West Brom between 2021 and 2023.
But with a move to the French fourth tier after just a year in Ligue 2, Carroll will be hoping to draw on his past experiences to help kickstart Bordeaux's journey back to the top.
