Former £35m Newcastle United star seals shock deadline day transfer

Former Newcastle United striker Andy Carroll will ply his trade in the second-tier of French football this season.

The 34-year-old spent last term at Reading but an underwhelming campaign combined with a points deduction for financial woes saw the Berkshire club relegated to the third-tier for the first time since 1992.

Carroll looked set to stay and play in League One with his contract not running out until next summer. He started the first two league fixtures for Ruben Selles’ side before his departure was announced earlier in the week after an exit clause was triggered.

That paved the way for a move to Ligue 2 side Amiens, which was confirmed before the French transfer deadline on Friday night.

It’s the first time Carroll has played his football outside of England having emerged from Newcastle’s academy before completing a then British record £35million move to Liverpool in January 2011.

He struggled to make an impact at Anfield and joined West Ham United on loan 18 months later. He made the move permanent in the following summer before making an emotional return to Newcastle.

Carroll’s first spell was far more successful than his last but in total made 134 appearances for his boyhood club. The nine-capped England international has also represented Preston North End and West Bromwich Albion.

As the goalscorer continues to hop around the lower leagues of the continent, it appears he is also preparing for ventures after playing football with his new property business. The Geordie has set up a company called 3 Property North East which looks to make property investments, management and broker sourcing in the star’s homeland.

Carroll registered 3 Property North East on Companies House on January 27, 2023 alongside two other colleagues. The company has also launched an Instagram account to advertise its services, which features videos of Carroll explaining why the North East is a great place for property investment right now.

In a recent video, recorded after his childhood club booked a place in the Champions League next season, Carroll explained what was going on with his off-the-pitch venture.

He said: “Hi everyone, I’m sure you’re well aware that our team Newcastle United has qualified for the Champions League after an unbelievable season. What you might not be aware of is that their achievement on the pitch is going to be amazing for the city of Newcastle, Gateshead and the surrounding areas of the North East.

“There is a lot of redevelopment and regeneration happening in and around the city which is expected for capital appreciation and growth for the next 10 to 15 years. The property price and the cost of entry here in the North East are pretty low compared with the rest of the UK, so it’s a perfect time for investment before the prices start to rise.

“With the success on the pitch and all the redevelopment happening around the city, there is a big demand for short-term and long-term lets on services accommodations.

“The average hotel price per night in Newcastle and Gateshead area is between £85 and £100 per person, we can offer a buy-to-let or services accommodation in and around the city centre which can achieve £110 per night at 60% occupancy rate throughout the year which could give you over £2,000 per calendar month gross rent from a £90,000 to £100,000 property.”