Robert Earnshaw Completes Baggies Move

Gone !
By Chris O'Brien
September 2 2004

Robert Earnshaw is now a West Bromwich Albion player after agreeing personal terms with the Midlands club. Years of speculation have finally been ended with the Welsh international moving to the Hawthorns for an initial fee of £3million.

Speculation and press reports going back years have finally been laid to rest as Robert Earnshaw completes his move to West Bromwich Albion after the Zambian-born player agreed personal terms with the Midlands club to complete the move. The record fee, initially at £3million, could rise by a further £620,000 depending on the progress made by Earnshaw and West Brom over the coming seasons.

The fee is the highest paid by West Bromwich Albion for a player, and shows how Megson rates Earnshaw. It is a big risk for an attacker who has never played in the Premiership and who has lacked consistency since the Bluebirds arrived in England's second flight, but it could reap the rewards. City's previous highest received fee was the £500,000 from Coventry City for Simon Haworth, a record that has been left smashed to pieces.

Earnshaw will see a few familiar faces when he begins training with the Throstles. Ironically, assistant manager Frank Burrows came so close to selling the Welsh international to Scottish Football League side Greenock Morton for a meagre £10,000. Since then Earnshaw's career has come on leaps and bounds. Fellow Welsh internationals Jason Koumas and Andy Johnson will also help the forward settle at the Hawthorns.

"It's always been my ambition to play in the Premiership and I'm absolutely thrilled West Brom are giving me that chance," said Earnie
"I'm taking nothing for granted and know that I've got to work hard.”But I'm looking forward to working with Gary Megson and Frank Burrows, who was one of my first managers at Cardiff."
The move will see City owner Sam Hammam under pressure from supporters. The Lebanese businessman has always claimed he would never sell Earnshaw, yet he has let the player go for a fee under half of what he has previously quoted he is worth. Many fans, including myself, see the deal as good business but Hammam's promises to never sell Earnshaw have left some disillusioned with the chairman.

Many thanks to Earnshaw who has given the club excellent service, scoring 107 in all competitions for the Bluebirds. His striking prowess was one of the most important factors during the 2002/2003 promotion campaign in a season the striker broke Hughie Ferguson's record for goals scored in a season by a City player. He deserves a crack at the highest level, and looks set to go straight into the West Bromwich Albion starting line-up to form a partnership with Nwankwo Kanu.

Good luck in the Premiership.