Sonck signs for Mönchengladbach
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Article summary
VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach have spent €4m to sign Belgian international striker Wesley Sonck from AFC Ajax.
Article body
Lengthy contract
The 26-year-old striker passed a medical today and made the move after agreeing terms on a three-and-a-half year contract. Reports in the Netherlands suggest the first six months of the deal are in principle a loan and the transfer will become permanent provided Mönchengladbach avoid relegation.
Relegation zone
The Bundesliga club will be looking to Sonck to refind the form that yielded 66 goals in 93 appearances for KRC Genk between 2000 and 2003, as they strive to pull away from the relegation zone. They are presently fourth from bottom of the Bundesliga.
'Outstanding striker'
"Wesley is an outstanding striker," said Mönchengladbach sporting director Christian Hochstätter. "Half of Europe tried to sign him 18 months ago when he left Genk and joined Ajax. His situation in Amsterdam gave us the chance to sign him and we are all very pleased that the deal has been sealed."
Hard times
Sonck, the 2001 Belgian Player of the Year, arrived at Ajax in the summer of 2003 for €5m, but was unable to live up to his reputation. He has scored just one Eredivisie goal this season and has been out of the side since early November, not even featuring among the substitutes in recent weeks. He is Mönchengladbach coach Dick Advocaat's fourth midwinter signing following the captures of midfield pair Jörg Böhme and Bernd Thijs, and defender Craig Moore.
