Andy Carroll about to sign for seventh club since Liverpool exit
Andy Carroll is about to sign for his seventh club since his Liverpool exit in 2013.
The former Reds striker left Anfield just two-and-a-half years after his $46million (£35m) move from Newcastle United on deadline day in January 2011, having scored just 11 goals in 58 appearances for the club prior to his departure.
After spending the 2012-13 campaign on loan at West Ham United, he signed for the Hammers on a permanent deal in the summer of 2013 for $20m (£15m) and spent the next six seasons in east London, scoring 34 times in 134 appearances across all competitions.
Liverpool news and transfers LIVE build-up to AC Milan clash as three players' roles revealed
Liverpool issues statement as fan dies before Champions League clash with AC Milan
Since then, Carroll returned to boyhood club Newcastle, before signing for Reading (twice) and West Bromwich Albion in the Championship. Last September, he moved to Ligue 2 club Amiens after a release clause was triggered in his Reading contract, scoring four times in 28 league games for the French outfit.
Now, however, it's been reported that the 35-year-old is expected to be on the move once more - but will be staying in France. According to L'Equipe, Carroll will join fourth-tier Bordeaux, who just suffered an administrative double relegation after declaring bankruptcy in August.
It came off the back of Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) withdrawing from a potential takeover of the club, having held talks with the French outfit during the summer. However, Bordeaux was forced to give up its professional status and close down its training ground, while terminating the contracts of all its players.
As a result, Bordeaux now competes in the Championnat National 2, despite finishing 12th in Ligue 2 last season, and has been playing its home fixtures behind-closed-doors at the 5,000-capacity Stade Sainte-Germaine, away from its usual home at the Matmut Atlantique, which holds 42,115 spectators.
The report from L'Equipe adds that Amiens sporting director John Williams has played a key role in convincing Carroll to drop down and join Bordeaux, despite the former England international currently playing for his side, having reportedly become involved in helping Bordeaux build a new squad.
Carroll has already featured in all four of Amiens' Ligue 2 fixtures this season and even started the 3-0 defeat away to FC Annecy on Friday, although that now appears to have been his final game for the club.
As for Bordeaux, it has began life in the fourth tier with two draws and a defeat and currently sits second-bottom of the 16-team Group B. On Saturday, it drew 0-0 with Bourges Foot 18, a club formed as recently as 2021 that is currently owned by former Liverpool star Sadio Mane.