By Chris O'Brien
August 14 2004

Cardiff City have signed Jobi McAnuff from West Ham United for an initial fee of £250,000. The London-born winger, who has a Jamaican international cap to his name, looks an excellent purchase from the club who could add width to the midfield.

Cardiff City have completed the signing of West Ham United midfielder Jobi McAnuff for an initial fee of £250,000. The youngster will take the squad number 25, and is a signing many fans will be pleased with as the new season swings into action.

McAnuff has worked with Bluebirds chairman Sam Hammam before during his days at Wimbledon. He was linked with a move to City recently, but was snapped up by West Ham as they looked to gatecrash the First Division and return to the Premiership at the first attempt. That failed, and a big squad has left the 23-year-old surplus to requirements at Upton Park.

He scored 15 goals in over 100 appearances for the club now based in Milton-Keynes, and was one of the young players raved about by Dons supporters, along with Nigel Reo-Coker who also moved to the Hammers. McAnuff made just 13 appearances for the East Londoners though, and will now move to South Wales where he hopes to find regular first-team football.

London-born McAnuff has a Jamaican cap to his name, but plans to put his international career on hold why he settles in the Football League. He is set to battle it out with Langley for a place on the right flank, and the Reggaeboyz connection could make things even more interesting!

The collapse of City's proposed move for Sean Gregan from West Bromwich Albion saw the club look elsewhere for a new midfielder, and fans will be surprised but pleased to see a deal completed so quickly for the highly-rated McAnuff.

The 23-year-old will not be eligible to play in Friday night's clash against Plymouth Argyle, but will travel with the rest of the squad to Portman Road for the Football League Championship clash against promotion chasing Ipswich Town. The likelihood is he will start life on the substitutes bench in Suffolk.

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