Andy Carroll says it is costing him money to play for Bordeaux as wage revealed

Andy Carroll has admitted that it is costing him money to play for French fourth-tier side Bordeaux after joining them earlier this month.

Carroll dropped three divisions to leave Amiens and join Bordeaux, and scored twice on his debut for the club.

Bordeaux won the Ligue 1 title in 2009 but have since encountered severe financial difficulties, which caused them to be administratively relegated to the Championnat National - the third tier of French football.

But despite giving up their status as a professional club and closing their training centre, Bordeaux were forcibly relegated a further division and put into administration due to bankruptcy.

Carroll is the most high-profile player to have joined since then, with the club also convincing their former defender and academy graduate Paul Baysse to come out of retirement to commence his third spell at Bordeaux.

Carroll is reportedly earning €3,500 per month at the French club - and has told RMC Sport that it is actually costing him money just to play.

He said: "To be honest, it's even costing me money to come and play for Bordeaux.

"But I'm playing football, and I am simply happy to be playing football. I want to be a part of this club's history.

"To be frank, it wasn't a question of money. In my career, it's never been a question of money."

Carroll initially moved into French football in the summer of 2023, signing for Amiens after leaving Reading on a free transfer.

His Premier League career encompassed spells at Newcastle, Liverpool and West Ham, though he was plagued by injuries towards the end of his time in the top flight of English football.

But he played 31 games in all competitions for Amiens last season, scoring four goals, and will now hope to spearhead Bordeaux's rise back up the divisions in French football.