Free agent Cole heads for Liverpool
Monday, July 19, 2010
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Roy Hodgson has made his second signing as the new manager of Liverpool FC by bringing in the former Chelsea FC midfielder Joe Cole on a four-year contract, subject to a medical.
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Liverpool FC have announced the signing of English international midfielder Joe Cole on a four-year deal, subject to a medical at the club's training camp in Switzerland.
The 28-year-old joins Liverpool after his contract with Chelsea FC expired at the end of last season, and becomes new manager Roy Hodgson's second signing. Cole made two substitute appearances for England at the FIFA World Cup to take his caps tally to 56, and arrives at Anfield following an unsettled season at Stamford Bridge during which he made 26 Premier League appearances, 12 of them as a substitute. He came off the bench to make his last appearance for Chelsea in their 1-0 FA Cup final victory against Portsmouth FC.
Cole came up through the ranks at West Ham United FC before joining Chelsea for €9.3m in the summer of 2003. He enjoyed tremendous success in west London, helping Chelsea to three Premier League titles and three FA Cups during his seven years at the club.
He also featured for Chelsea as they lost the 2007/08 UEFA Champions League final to Manchester United FC on penalties, the first time the London club had reached the showpiece. Cole replaces Yossi Benayoun, who signed for Chelsea at the start of the month, and becomes Liverpool's second major new arrival of the summer following the capture of striker Milan Jovanović from R. Standard de Liège.
Hodgson succeeded Rafael Benítez on 1 July after leading Fulham FC to the UEFA Europa League final last term. He will have another shot at the competition this season with Liverpool, who finished seventh in the Premier League and kick off in the third qualifying round against either FK Rabotnicki, of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, or Armenia's FC Mika on 29 July.
