Carroll Joins Daggers as Player-Investor
Former Liverpool striker makes unexpected move to National League club.
In a surprising turn, former England international Andy Carroll has signed with Dagenham & Redbridge of the National League, also investing in the club. The move marks a return to East London for the player, who previously played for West Ham.
Key Development
After a stint in France’s fourth division with Bordeaux, Carroll, aged 36, expressed his excitement about joining Dagenham. He stated, “I’m really excited to get started with Dagenham. My kids thought I was signing for Chelsea – they’ll be in for a shock. It’s a fantastic location and close to my kids, they will be able to come and see me play.”
Beyond playing, Carroll conveyed eagerness to get involved in the club’s leadership. “I didn’t want to finish playing football and I’m really excited to get involved in the leadership side and be a player. I’ve got experience in seeing how clubs are run, of all levels. I think I can add value.”
Across Europe, player-ownership is gaining traction; in Spain’s second division, FC Andorra is owned by FC Barcelona defender, Gerard Pique (Football-Espana.net 2023).
Carroll’s Career
Carroll is most notably known for his £35 million transfer from Newcastle to Liverpool in January 2011. While at Anfield, his performance did not meet expectations, as he scored 11 goals in 58 appearances before his move to West Ham.
Dagenham & Redbridge celebrated Carroll’s arrival on social media, declaring, “It’s not every day that a club can announce a new investor, a new kit and a new star striker all in the same day, but this isn’t just anyone. Andy Carroll is a Dagger!”
Ownership Change
Concurrently, Dagenham announced its sale to a consortium that includes prominent Qatari investors
who have obtained full ownership. The consortium includes interim chairman Youseph Al Sharif, alongside former Daggers skipper Anwar Uddin.
Uddin shared his enthusiasm about returning to the club: “I consider it an absolute privilege to return to the club after such a memorable spell as a player. I’m genuinely excited to reconnect with the fans and everyone associated with Dagenham and Redbridge, and to play a part in helping the club move firmly in the right direction.”