Emiliano Sala: Cardiff City sign Nantes striker for undisclosed club record fee

Emiliano Sala celebrates scoringImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Emiliano Sala joined Nantes from Ligue 1 side Bordeaux in 2015 for just £1m

Cardiff City have signed Argentine striker Emiliano Sala from Nantes for an undisclosed club record fee.

The 28-year-old has scored 13 league and cup goals this season, making him the third-top scorer in Ligue 1 behind Kylian Mbappe and Nicolas Pepe.

The fee beats the £11m Cardiff paid for Chile international Gary Medel in 2013.

The move had earlier appeared to have fallen through, but a deal was confirmed on Saturday subject to international clearance.

"I'm very happy to be here," said Sala. "It gives me great pleasure and I can't wait to start training, meet my new teammates and get down to work."

Speaking after the deal was announced, Cardiff City's chief executive Ken Choo said: "It's obviously been a long process to secure the services of Emiliano but I'm very pleased that we're now in a position whereby we can confirm his signature.

"I'm sure all Cardiff City fans will join me in that and we can look forward to seeing our record signing in a Bluebirds shirt."

Sala becomes Cardiff's second signing of the January transfer window after Everton striker Oumar Niasse joined on loan on Friday.

Goals have been hard to come by for Cardiff this season. Their tally of 19 is the second lowest in the division, only bottom side Huddersfield have fewer (13).

Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

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