Djorkaeff signs Bolton deal
Kaiserslautern terminated the contract of the World Cup winner enabling 'the Snake' to head for The Reebok Stadium until the end of the season as coach Sam Allardyce looks to ensure Wanderers do not return swiftly to the Nationwide League.
Djorkaeff, 33, has played for the top clubs in France, Italy and Germany in his glittering career which has seen him amass 78 caps for France.
A well-documented fall-out with Red Devils coach Andreas Brehme left the player desperate to leave the Betzenberg in search of first team football and a chance to stake a claim for a place in Roger Lemerre's French World Cup squad.
Struggling Bolton have handed him that chance and coach Allardyce believes the Gallic ace represents a major coup for the Lancashire outfit.
"Signing a player of Youri's calibre and class underlines our determination to stay in the Premiership. He is an outstanding world-class player and a World Cup winner, and perhaps the biggest signing in the club's history," a beaming Allardyce told the club's official website.
"From the club's point of view, it shows our great determination through long and protracted negotiations in getting our man."
On joining Bolton Djorkaeff revealed it was the club's persistence that persuaded him to put pen-to-paper.
"I decided to sign for Bolton because the club really want me." said the ex-Internazionale ace.
"Sam visited me in Germany, he told me he relied on me, and told me I would be in the first-team."
"I want to score goals and I've never felt as fit. I am really eager to discover this new challenge, help Bolton stay in the Premier League and regain my place in the international set-up for the World Cup."
Meanwhile, new Aston Villa coach Graham Taylor has dismissed claims that Djorkaeff snubbed a move to Villa Park before signing a contract with Bolton.
The Frenchman claimed to have shunned late approaches from Villa and West Ham but Taylor crushed claims that the Midlands outfit had made a move for the former PSG player.
"I knew of his availability, but I had no interest in bringing him to Villa Park," Taylor told the club's official website.
"Most people are sensible enough to know that when a manager joins a club, the club gets linked with just about every player going."
