Transfer News - Murphy joins Celtic; West Ham United signs Pablo Barrera and Frederic Piquionne
Sunderland has officially announced that Irish International Daryl Murphy has left the club, and signed up with the Celtics on a three-year-deal on Friday. The 27-year-old has joined the Parkhead club on a three-year-deal. The Celtics have already signed three players under manager Neil Lennon and Murphy is the fourth one. Charlie Mulgrew, Joe Ledley and Cha Du-Ri are the three names which have already made their official signing with the club, and Murphy, who was unsettled at Sunderland, has completed his switch to the Celtics.
Daryl Murphy started his football career at his hometown club of Waterford United. He was a keen learner and a talented performer, which caught the eye of the then Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy, who signed the player in 2005. Murphy was keen to impress his new employers but failed to make it to the starting line-up. Lack of first team opportunities forced him to have a season long loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich Town, where he scored six goals in the last season. He has also played nine times for his international team, and made a full debut when he played against Ecuador in 2007. Murphy is said to leave his club immediately and is joining his new employers, who are on a pre-season tour in North America. Sunderland wished the player the best of luck for his future career and was thankful for his services.
In other news, West Ham United has officially signed Pablo Barrera and Frederic Piquionne to their side. The 23-year-old Mexican midfielder, Pablo Barrera, inked a four-year deal with the hammers, after successfully passing a medical test and receiving a permit, which allows him to legally work in the UK. He made three substitute appearances for Mexico in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, as his side reached the Round of 16 of the contest, before being eliminated by Argentina. Barrera was happy about joining the premier league club, claiming that he was delighted by the warm welcome and reception he got from the team manager as well as the players. He relished the opportunity to play for the club, and stated that the reception he got at the club was just amazing. The Mexican added that he knew the club, even when he was playing in Mexico, and claimed that West Ham is a big club. He further claimed that he was well aware of the quality and talent of the clubs’ past as well as the present set of players. Pablo Barrera stated that he has learnt even more after spending time in England, and is excited to be at the club.
The Mexican footballer stated that he just couldn’t wait to get on and play in one of the biggest leagues of the world. He was happy to get the opportunity to play for West Ham and vowed to do his level best for his new employers. Pablo added that he would want to come up to the expectations of the fans and the team management, who would obviously want him to give his 100% in every game. He claimed that he won’t disappoint them.
The newly signed footballer claimed that he is very fast and has the ability to use both his feet for shooting. The Mexican added that he likes one-on-one situations where he can use his ability to conquer his opponents and loved to excite his supporters by using his skill with the ball. “People have said that I am the sort of player that the fans want to have the ball as often as possible because I can make things happen," claimed the Mexican midfielder.
West Ham was also able to land striker Frederic Piquionne in their squad, who was part of the Portsmouth squad last year on loan from Lyon. He is well aware of manager Avram Grant, as he managed Portsmouth towards the latter half of the season. He signed a three-year deal with the Hammers where he scored 11 goals in the last season for Portsmouth. Piquionne exclaimed that he was delighted to join West Ham United, mostly because of manager Avram Grant. He claimed that he knew Grant well, and liked working with him, and was also aware that Grant fancied the striker. He added that he aims to work hard for the squad and expects a good season with the Hammers. He praised Grant’s coaching abilities, claiming that despite the numerous problems Portsmouth faced last season, Grant was still able to guide the squad to the FA Cup Final. He stated that he just wants to concentrate on football, and that would make him play with more passion and enthusiasm. He hailed West Ham’s squad, and stated that the quality of players that he Hammers enjoy would hopefully make a good season for him and the club.
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