Premier League new boys Bournemouth swoop to sign Joe Rothwell on free transfer after Blackburn deal expired
BOURNEMOUTH have completed the signing of Joe Rothwell on a free transfer. Scott Parker tried to land the midfielder – who has signed a four-year deal – in January but saw his approach knocked back by Blackburn Rovers. Rothwell, 27, ran his contract down at Ewood Park before making the switch to the south coast, […]
BOURNEMOUTH have completed the signing of Joe Rothwell on a free transfer.
Scott Parker tried to land the midfielder – who has signed a four-year deal – in January but saw his approach knocked back by Blackburn Rovers.
Rothwell, 27, ran his contract down at Ewood Park before making the switch to the south coast, with the Cherries getting there ahead of a number of clubs.
Bournemouth chief Neil Blake said: “Joe has been on our radar for a while now and we’re delighted to bring him to the club.
“Unsurprisingly, we had huge competition to sign Joe, so we’re really pleased that he has chosen AFC Bournemouth as the next step in his career.
“Joe has proven himself as an outstanding midfielder in the Championship over the past few seasons and we believe he can continue his development under head coach Scott Parker and his coaching team.”
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Meanwhile, Bournemouth are also set to sign West Ham right-back Ryan Fredericks on a free.
The right-back has completed his medical at the newly-promoted Cherries.
Fredericks played alongside Bournemouth boss Scott Parker during their time together at Fulham five years ago.
He left to join the Hammers on a free a year later but racked up only 46 league starts in four campaigns.
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The 29-year-old struggled with injury and dropped behind Vladimir Coufal and Ben Johnson in the Irons pecking order.
Southampton – as well as Fredericks’s former club Fulham – were interested in him but Bournemouth appear to have the deal done.
Parker is keen to bring in more defensive recruits as he plots a path to Premier League survival.
SunSport exclusively revealed that Bournemouth are planning to sign a whole new back four this summer.
The club remain keen on Liverpool‘s Nat Phillips after he impressed on loan at the south coast club during the second half of last season, helping to fire them back to the top flight.