The former Blackburn man joins on a four-and-a-half year deal.
By Oliver Rhodes
Queens Park Rangers have splashed the cash and signed towering Congolese centre-back Christopher Samba for a club-record fee.
The 28-year-old joins from Anzhi Makhachkala for £12.5million in a four-and-a-half-year deal and replaces former Blackburn Rovers teammate Ryan Nelsen, who departs for MLS club Toronto FC.
And Samba is delighted with the return to England’s top-flight and believes the Hoops can avoid relegation.
“I know what is going on with the project here. There is a very important fan base here – I’ve played at Loftus Road before and it is fantastic,” Samba told the club website.
“The club is ambitious and I am sure it is a good challenge for me. I would not be here if I didn’t believe we could get out of trouble.”
Samba featured in 23 games for Anzhi this season and scored three goals, while he tallied 16 goals in 161 appearances during his five-year spell at Ewood Park.
Manager Harry Redknapp, who pursued Samba during his Tottenham Hotspur tenure, expressed his excitement with the deal.
“Chris is just what we need. He’s a monster,” added Redknapp.
“He’s great in the air, quick, a leader, strong, fantastic in both boxes and hard as nails. He’s a proper centre-half.”
Samba will reportedly earn £100,000-a-week at the club and will wear the number five shirt.
Picture courtesy of Wiki Commons, with thanks.
