MANILA – Philippine Azkals goalkeeper Neil Etheridge has completed his transfer to Birmingham City in the second-tier English Football League Championship after spending three years with Cardiff City FC.
Alphonse Areola signed with promoted Fulham FC on loan making him the second footballer of Filipino heritage affiliated to a Premier League squad.
Philippine Azkals goalkeeper Neil Etheridge completed his transfer to Birmingham City in the second-tier English Football League Championship.
The Filipino-English booter, who is a regular fixture in the Philippine national football team, recently signed a four-year deal with Birmingham.
“I’d just like to take the time to say a massive thank you to Cardiff City FC for everything they’ve done for me. The past three years we’ve had such an amazing time together, being promoted in my first season to the Premier League, and even though we were relegated we gave it a right go in the best league in the world!” he said.
Etheridge made 99 league appearances for the Bluebirds and was instrumental in Cardiff’s promotion to the Premier League but lost his post to teammate Alex Smithies.
“He (Etheridge) is a player who is on our list but the club is doing a very good job,” Birmingham City head coach Aitor Karanka said in an interview with the Evening Express.
“He has experience, promotion experience, which is important as well with players like (Adam) Clayton and George (Friend) they know how nice it is to get promoted. Let’s see what happens,” he added.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Alphonse Areola signed with promoted Fulham FC on loan making him the second footballer of Filipino heritage affiliated to a Premier League squad aside from Etheridge.
“I hope this season will be a good one for us. I want to bring my energy and do everything for this team to keep it where it belongs,” Areola said in Fulham’s Twitter account./PN
