Former Newcastle Striker Andy Carroll Explains His Move To Bordeaux

Not many professional footballers would pay for the privilege of playing in the French fourth-tier but former England striker Andy Carroll is a rare exception.

Once the highest-priced British footballer when he joined Liverpool in 2011, Carroll netted 54 goals in the Premier League, earning millions annually. However, he now reportedly earns just 3,500 euros ($3,901) per month at his new club, Girondins de Bordeaux.

“To be honest, it’s costing me money to go and play for Girondins,” Carroll told RMC Sport. “I’m simply happy to play football.

“I want to be part of the club’s history. To be honest, it’s not about the money. In my career, it’s never been about money.

“At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what level you play at… I hope we can achieve our goals this season.”

Now 35 years old, Carroll, who started his career at Newcastle United before his blockbuster move to Liverpool, spent last season with French second-division side Amiens.

Once regulars in the Champions League, Bordeaux has faced difficult times due to financial troubles, leading to a bankruptcy filing that required them to relinquish their professional license and begin anew in the fourth-tier National 2 league.

But that did not stop Carroll from joining the former Ligue 1 champions, with the striker describing it as a “great project” as they look to climb up the French football pyramid.

“Unfortunately, the club has gone down several divisions, but it’s a great club and we’re going to try to put it back where it belongs,” he said.

Carroll had a debut to remember last weekend when he scored a double as Bordeaux came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at home against Voltigeurs de Chateaubriant.

“Frankly, it was fantastic, the fans were wonderful. We were 2-0 down in the first half and they pushed us on,” Carroll said.

“I loved scoring those two goals, especially for the fans who were there. It was a great feeling.”