Andy Carroll’s recent transfer to the French side Amiens has left football fans scratching their heads. The former England striker, who previously wore the No2 jersey, has now donned the No99 shirt for his new team. This unexpected move was confirmed on transfer deadline day, and Amiens welcomed him with an extravagant video announcement that surprised many.
The choice of the jersey number, in particular, has raised eyebrows, with some calling it “the most random transfer ever.” Fans on social media couldn’t contain their amusement and confusion. One fan joked, “There he is, the angel of the north,” while another enthusiastically declared, “Carroll in the 99 jersey, take my money!” It seems Carroll’s decision has added an element of unpredictability to this transfer.
Carroll, 34, made this move just a year after joining Reading, a club that was relegated from the Championship last season. He had started their first two League One matches in the current season but has now chosen to play in France. News of his transfer to Amiens took many by surprise, leading one fan to quip, “The random signing of the year, Mr. Andy Carroll,” while another simply called it the “Random transfer rumor of the day.” A third fan hailed it as the “Winner of the random transfer of the window.”
This new chapter in Carroll’s career will see him team up with former Chelsea youth player Gael Kakuta at Amiens. Kakuta, a 32-year-old winger, was associated with Chelsea from 2009 to 2015. Notably, this will be Carroll’s first experience playing abroad in his football journey.
Andy Carroll’s career has taken him from Newcastle United to Liverpool in a record-breaking deal in 2011, followed by a stint with West Ham. After seven years at West Ham, he made an emotional return to his hometown club, Newcastle, in 2019. His time at Reading was brief before he moved on to West Brom. Now, he embarks on a unique adventure in France with Amiens.