West Brom have completed the signing of Rickie Lambert from Liverpool in a deal thought to be worth around £3 million.
After an underwhelming first and only season at Liverpool since signing from Southampton last summer, Lambert passed a medical at the Hawthorns on Friday.
NEW SIGNING: We are delighted to announce the arrival of Rickie Lambert from Liverpool http://t.co/x5Q3ahsFJa pic.twitter.com/3BPywKxhpQ
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) July 31, 2015
The Kirkby-born striker made 36 appearances in all competitions for Brendan Rodgers side, scoring only three goals — against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace in the Premier League and against Ludogorets in the Champions League.
The 33-year-old was linked with a number of clubs this summer, including Leicester City, but it became clear he was wanted by West Brom this week when manager Tony Pulis sung his praises.
“It’s very important that we get players who will score goals,” Pulis was quoted by FourFourTwo as saying. “Rickie’s got a great goalscoring record.
“From what I can gather from people at Liverpool his fitness levels are very, very good, and he is desperate to play football.
“He didn’t play last year, so it’s like bringing a brand new car out of the garage if we did sign him.
“Just putting a bit of petrol in it and letting it run.”
Lambert is the fourth Liverpool player to leave this summer after Steven Gerrard (LA Galaxy), Sebastian Coates (Sunderland), Javier Manquillo (loan terminated, returned to Atletico Madrid where he has gone on loan to Marseille) and Raheem Sterling (Manchester City).
Liverpool also appear to be looking to sell Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini and Jose Enrique after the trio were reportedly frozen out of first-team training sessions and not taken on the club’s pre-season tours.
Good luck with the rest of your career, Rickie.
