Andy Carroll set to join 'semi-pro' club as former Liverpool striker's career takes shock turn

Andy Carroll is set to make another surprise career move, with the former Newcastle and Liverpool striker on the verge of joining a semi-professional club.

Former England international Carroll, 35, swapped English football for a new life in France last year – joining second division side Amiens as a free agent after terminating his Reading contract.

The striker has managed only four goals in 35 games for the French club and is now set to move on after making just one start this season.

French outlet L'Equipe claim Carroll is on the verge of joining fallen giants Bordeaux, who are now a fourth-division side in France.

The six-time Ligue 1 champions recently gave up their professional status and were demoted to the Championnat National 2 as a result of financial struggles at the club.

Bordeaux were forced to file for bankruptcy in July after Liverpool's owners FSG pulled out of talks to buy the troubled French club.

They are now plotting their climb back to the top tier of French football, with Carroll set to join them.

Former Amiens sporting director John Williams, who persuaded Carroll to make the move to France, is now working for Bordeaux and is said to have played a key role in convincing him to join the fourth-tier club.

It comes after Bordeaux owner Gerard Lopez announced this week the club would look to sign players who had 'no business' being in league as low as the Championnat National 2.

Speaking after his initial move to Amiens, Carroll explained why he had chosen to leave English football.

"I had many options from many countries, including in England," he said.

"When I spoke with John, I came here straight away and cast my eye over the city and the club. I knew it was the place I wanted to play.

Andy Carroll during his time with Reading (Image: Getty)

"It was by speaking to John and my team-mates that I made the decision to come here. It's a good club, a family club, with great facilities."

Carroll first broke through at Newcastle in 2006 and played a key role in their promotion to the Premier League in 2010.

He later earned a £35m move to Liverpool in 2011 but managed just 11 goals in 58 games for the Reds before leaving for West Ham in 2013.

He went on to have a seven-year spell with the Hammers before returning to Newcastle in 2019, with later spells at Reading and West Brom following before his move to France last year.

The striker is also a former England international, having won nine caps for his country between 2010 and 2012.