As the January transfer window really begins to kick into full swing, Jermaine Pennant has sealed a move to Tampines Rovers, thus becoming the highest-paid player in the history of the Singapore S-League in the process.
Pennant had been on trial with Tampines for a couple of weeks and, after proving himself up to scratch, has spent the last few days locked in negotiations with the club’s chairman Krishna Ramachandra.
After striking a deal described by Ramachandra as “sexy”, the 33-year-old former Liverpool and Stoke winger was formally unveiled at a press conference today.
“I don’t look at it as a lesser league,” Pennant told reporters. “It’s just another chapter in my career.”
Ramachandra refused to give exact details of Pennant’s contract, but it’s being reported that Tampines’ new No.9 will earn around £19,500-a-month.
“The financial component is one not typical to what we traditionally pay our players,” Ramachandra added.
“We’ve been fortunate that a couple of sponsors have stepped up to absorb the cost associated with the signing-on.”