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High-priced defender Ferdinand joins Leeds in US$27 million transfer deal
Updated: Friday November 24, 2000 8:34 AM
LEEDS, England (AP) -- Rio Ferdinand completed his 18-million-pound (US$27 million) move Friday from West Ham to Leeds United, shattering British soccer's transfer record and becoming the world's most expensive defender. The 22-year-old England international agreed to personal terms with Leeds chairman Peter Risdale. He will undergo a medical check Saturday before being unveiled to Leeds fans prior to Sunday's Premier League game against Arsenal at Elland Road. "The deal is done with the one remaining aspect being tomorrow's medical," Risdale said. "Personal terms have been agreed and pleasingly, from our perspective, we have landed a player of Rio's caliber without going outside our existing wage structure." The center back is expected to sign a 5 1/2-year contract worth a reported 30,000 pounds (US$45,000) per week. The transfer fee eclipses the British record 15 million pounds (US$22.5 million) paid by Newcastle to Blackburn for Alan Shearer, and by Chelsea to Atletico Madrid for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. It also surpasses the 13 million pounds (US$19.5 million) paid by Roma for Argentina's Walter Samule in June, a world record for a defender. West Ham manager Harry Redknapp said the bid for Ferdinand was an offer the London club simply "can't refuse." Ferdinand, a cousin of Tottenham and former England striker Les Ferdinand, has been associated with West Ham for 10 years since he signed up with the Hammers as a schoolboy. Leeds had hoped to conclude Ferdinand's signing before Friday's noon registration deadline, allowing him to play against the Gunners. Instead, he will make his debut at Leicester in eight days' time. The capture of Ferdinand takes David O'Leary's spending as manager of Leeds in just over two years in charge to 64.3 million pounds ($US96 million).
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