Andy Carroll Joins Lower-League London Club Amid Qatari Takeover Frenzy

Andy Carroll Makes Surprising Move to Non-League Dagenham and Redbridge

Former Newcastle and Liverpool striker Andy Carroll has made a surprising move to non-league side Dagenham and Redbridge. The former England international became a free agent after leaving Bordeaux at the end of last season, but has decided to return to his home country to be closer to his family.

Dagenham, who play in the sixth tier of English football, were recently purchased by a consortium of Qatari private investors. Youseph Al Sharif was appointed interim chairman, with former captain Anwar Uddin MBE coming in as non-executive director. Just an hour later, Carroll was signed and, as part of his move to the east London club, he will reportedly acquire a minority stake.

Last month, Bordeaux confirmed that Carroll had departed to "return home" and be closer to his five children. The 6ft 4in striker doubled down on this when addressing the public regarding his move to the Daggers.

"I'm really excited to get started with Dagenham," he told The Sun. "My kids thought I was signing for Chelsea - they'll be in for a shock. It's a fantastic location and close to my kids, they will be able to come and see me play."

Carroll also mentioned that he enjoyed his time in Bordeaux but felt it was time to settle with his family. He hopes his kids will bring their friends to see him play.

Balancing Roles as Player and Shareholder

Carroll explained that he is looking forward to balancing his roles as a shareholder and a player, and believes his 19-year career in football gives him the experience to do so. He revealed that he turned down approaches from 'top clubs' in France, Italy, and Spain to instead play in England.

"I didn't want to finish playing football and I'm really excited to get involved in the leadership side and be a player," he said. "I've got experience in seeing how clubs are run, of all levels. I think I can add value."

His first goal is to help Dagenham get promoted. While he received offers from clubs with more money, he realized Dagenham was a project he really wanted to get into.

"I was getting offers from clubs in France, Italy and Spain, but I wanted to come home," he added. "I could sign for a top club, but me and the managers might not see eye to eye, so I just want to be somewhere I'm going to be happy."

A Career Filled with Highlights

Carroll became a fan favorite in his single campaign at Bordeaux after dropping down the divisions and taking a huge pay cut, even revealing that he was losing money by playing for them. The 36-year-old scored 11 goals in 23 matches last season as Bordeaux finished fourth in the National 2, France's fourth division.

This was his second season in France, having netted four times in 35 appearances for second-tier club Amiens the previous season.

Carroll started his career at Newcastle before earning a £35m switch to Liverpool in 2011. He played for England nine times, scoring at the 2012 Euros. He also had spells at West Ham, West Brom, Reading, and returned to Newcastle before moving to Amiens in September 2023.

A New Chapter

Carroll's move to Dagenham and Redbridge marks a new chapter in his career. With a desire to be closer to his family and a passion for football, he is ready to take on the challenge of playing at a lower level while contributing to the club's growth.

His decision to join a non-league side shows his commitment to the game and his willingness to embrace new opportunities. As he steps onto the pitch for Dagenham, fans will be eager to see how he adapts to this new environment and what impact he can have on the team's performance.