Appiah completes move to Bologna

Ghana captain Stephen Appiah has ended his long search for a club by signing for Italian Serie A club Bologna.

The 28-year-old has been without a club since leaving Turkish outfit Fenerbahce last year after overcoming a knee injury.

Appiah was unable to secure deals at English side Tottenham and Rubin Kazan in Russia and he is delighted with the Bologna move.

"I am very happy with the deal Bologna because they are the only club who showed faith in me," Appiah told BBC Sport.

"I am going to give all my heart to this team as I have done with all my previous teams.

"With the little that I have, I am going to respect the Bologna colours and together with my new team-mates we will make the team great."

Appiah expressed his gratitude to Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac, who continued to include him in the Black Stars' World Cup qualifiers even though he had not played for a club for nearly two years.

"The Ghana coach Mr Rajevac was very supportive of me in my hard times and so were my Black Stars colleagues and the Ghana FA," the midfielder said.

"They showed me that Ghana is a country worth dying for and I hope to use this new opportunity to regain full match fitness to help my country."

The vastly-experienced midfielder left Fenerbahce under acrimonious circumstances in the wake of knee surgery but he is grateful to their fans for their support.

They showed me that Ghana is a country worth dying for and I hope use this new opportunity to regain full match fitness to help my country

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"A lot of fans supported me through this hard time and their motivational messages kept me going," Appiah said.

"I had lots of problems with Fenerbahce but still their fans sent me messages of support and they really touched me with their gesture."

Bologna are fourth bottom in Serie A, and the 28-year-old's arrival should add creativity to their midfield.

Appiah joined Fenerbahce in 2005 from Italian giants Juventus after winning the country's league title that season.

His decision to leave Juventus ended his seven-year stay in Italy after earlier spells with Udinese, Parma and Brescia.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
BBC Fast Track - at the heart of African sport
Stephen Appiah's official website
Bologna Official website
Ghana football news
Fenerbahce
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