Post by Peschi on May 30, 2007 10:15:34 GMT -1
WATFORD have continued their early summer signing spree with the signature of Arsenal goalkeeper Mart Poom.
The 35 year old stopper made just one appearance for the Gunners during his year and a half at the north London club.
The addition to Aidy Boothroyd's squad takes care of his number one headache, having lost Ben Foster following his return to parent club Manchester United at the end of the season.
Having been signed as cover for Jens Lehmann and Manuel Almunia, Poom was able to sign off his Arsenal career with a clean sheet against Portsmouth on the last day of the season.
he Estonian international now joins Watford on a two year deal for an undisclosed fee.
Poom has vast experience of English football, having made over 200 appearances for both Derby County and Sunderland. He also has over 100 international caps and has been voted Estonian Footballer of the Year six times.
Boothroyd said: "Every team needs a balance between the soldiers and the artists and every team needs a balance between the elder statesmen and the young bucks.
"Mart's signing brings a calming and steadying influence in what is a key position, and obviously he has to fight it out with Richard Lee for the place.
"He's a terrific goalkeeper with a wonderful pedigree and I think he will be a great signing for us.
"He's been at Derby, Sunderland and Arsenal, and his age is no factor - that's just a number. He's a terrific specimen and he's not played for a year which will make him fresher still.
"He's got that spring that you look for in a goalkeeper, and I think he'll be a terrific acquisition."
The 35 year old stopper made just one appearance for the Gunners during his year and a half at the north London club.
The addition to Aidy Boothroyd's squad takes care of his number one headache, having lost Ben Foster following his return to parent club Manchester United at the end of the season.
Having been signed as cover for Jens Lehmann and Manuel Almunia, Poom was able to sign off his Arsenal career with a clean sheet against Portsmouth on the last day of the season.
he Estonian international now joins Watford on a two year deal for an undisclosed fee.
Poom has vast experience of English football, having made over 200 appearances for both Derby County and Sunderland. He also has over 100 international caps and has been voted Estonian Footballer of the Year six times.
Boothroyd said: "Every team needs a balance between the soldiers and the artists and every team needs a balance between the elder statesmen and the young bucks.
"Mart's signing brings a calming and steadying influence in what is a key position, and obviously he has to fight it out with Richard Lee for the place.
"He's a terrific goalkeeper with a wonderful pedigree and I think he will be a great signing for us.
"He's been at Derby, Sunderland and Arsenal, and his age is no factor - that's just a number. He's a terrific specimen and he's not played for a year which will make him fresher still.
"He's got that spring that you look for in a goalkeeper, and I think he'll be a terrific acquisition."