Swansea City have completed the £12m club record signing of WilfriedBony from Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem today, subject to work permitclearance.
The striker completed a medical at Swansea’s pre-season training camp inHolland earlier in the week and put pen to paper on a four-year dealthat was finalised today.
The £12m move, with potential add-ons to follow, smashed the previous£5.55m record transfer fee paid to Valencia for Spanish winger PabloHernandez last summer.
It also completes Michael Laudrup’s summer search for a top classhit-man after a productive 10 days in the transfer market for the club.
“This move has been talked about for quite some time, so I am delighted it is all completed,’’ declared Bony.
“Now it is important that I focus my mind on the challenge ahead because I hope to make the Swansea fans very happy.’’
Bony was a scoring sensation in the Eredivisie last season, with thestriker’s 31 goals in 30 games not only earning him the top scorer awardbut also clinching him the Dutch Player of the Year title.
It also enabled Vitesse to finish fourth in the Eredivisie – meaningthey will play in the Europa League’s third qualifying round along withthe Swans.
“The Europa League is my first focus,’’ added Bony, who finished thetournament’s top scorer while at Sparta Prague with nine goals. “I enjoyplaying in Europe; I am used to it.’’
Bony started his career in his homeland with Issia Wazi, later moving tothe Czech Republic to sign for Sparta Prague, who he helped win theirnational league title in 2010.
His form attracted the attention of Vitesse, who paid just over £3million for his services midway through the 2010-11 season.
In his first full season at Vitesse, Bony was top scorer with 12 goals from 28 league games.
But it was in the 2012-13 campaign which he was truly prolific, finding the net 36 times from 36 games in all competitions.
On the international stage, Bony has eight goals in 20 caps, and was ontarget during the African Cup of Nations earlier this year as IvoryCoast reached the quarter-finals in South Africa.
“I am looking forward to joining the training camp out here in Hollandas a Swansea player and building up good communications with the teamand coaching staff as quickly as possible.’’
http://www.swanseacity.net/news/article/bony-signs-904551.aspx [ 此帖被alan1439在2013-07-11 21:51重新編輯 ]
