FOOTBALL: FORMER Premier League star Yakubu has signed a short term deal with the Sky Blues until the end of the season.
The 34-year-old former Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton, and Blackburn Rovers striker has been training with the League One club for over a week and will provide much-needed firepower to Russell Slade’s goal-shy squad.
Yakubu has put pen-to-paper on a short term deal which will keep him at the Ricoh Arena until May.
Russell Slade said: “We’re pleased to have secured the signing of Yakubu, who brings vast experience and a terrific goal record.
“His professional career speaks for itself, having scored consistently at the highest level of English football, and will act as a superb role model for the younger players.
“He is astute on the ball, has clear quality and presence, and we’ll continue to work on his match fitness as we prepare for the final 16 games of this season.”
Yakubu adds a wealth of top flight experience to Slade’s squad having enjoyed spells in the Premier League with Portsmouth, Middlesborough and Everton where his combined fee for all three clubs was in the region of £22million.
The ‘Yak’ as he more commonly known scored 96 goals in 253 Premier League appearances and also bagged 11 goals in 20 league appearances during a brief spell on loan at Leicester City.
His goalscoring exploits continued when he left England for Chinese Super League Guangzhou Evergrande where he netted 24 times in 43 appearances.
Yakubu had a brief spell in Turkey last season at Super Lig outfit Kayserispor before returning to England with the Sky Blues.
Yakubu is one of a number of high profile players on Slade’s wishlist as he steps up his search to bring in another striker and a winger.
Slade is also looking at two other players, both with experience of playing in the Premier League, while he is also keeping tabs on Navid Nasseri who remains on trial.
“They are all players with very good pedigree who will also give us some experience,” Slade added.
“I’m still looking to see what is out there and how we can improve the team but I think everyone knows what are we need to improve on. We need to bring in players that can score goals and my priority is a striker and another wide player as well.”
