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10:02 GMT, Saturday, 4 July 2009 11:02 UK

Chopra completes Cardiff switch

Michael Chopra

Michael Chopra has completed his club record £4m move to Championship side Cardiff City from Sunderland.

The former England Under-21 striker joined Cardiff initially on loan in January but has now signed a permanent three-year contract.

The 25-year-old said: "I'm really glad it is all sorted and I'm excited and determined to gain promotion."

Chopra is the fourth player to sign permanently for Cardiff this week with full-back Paul Quinn also joining.

Bluebirds boss Dave Jones signed defensive duo Anthony Gerrard from Walsall and Mark Hudson from Charlton Athletic.

Cardiff also completed the signing of Motherwell defender Quinn on Saturday, as Jones bids to bolster his backline following the defensive departures of Roger Johnson and Darren Purse.

The Chopra deal breaks Cardiff's £1.7m transfer record the club paid Stoke City for striker Peter Thorne in September 2001.

A Chopra deal is also Cardiff's record transfer received when Sunderland paid £5m for him in July 2007.

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" Chopra will put a smile on our faces next year, absolutely no doubt about that "


oldsparkey

The former Newcastle United striker is in his third spell in South Wales as Chopra scored 22 goals in his previous stint at Cardiff in the 2006/7 season.

But his stay at Cardiff ended when Newcastle's North East rivals splashed out £5m for him two years ago.

Chopra scored six goals in 33 Premier League appearances in 2007/8 but struggled to establish himself in the first team and suffered high-profile off-the-field problems.

Chopra initially re-signed for Cardiff in November on loan before being recalled by the then Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia.

But Chopra once again returned to Cardiff on the final day of the January transfer window - signing on loan initially to ensure the paperwork was submitted before the transfer deadline.

And his permanent back move to Cardiff was sealed when his loan officially ended.

Chopra scored nine goals in 27 games during his two spells at Ninian Park last season and was in the squad that suffered play-off heartbreak on the final day of the season.

Cardiff were among the Championship's top six for most of the season but missed out on a play-off shot in the final 15 minutes of the season.

"I, like all the other lads, am excited and determined to go that extra mile to gain promotion," Chopra told Cardiff's official website.

"We are all putting in 110% in training and there is a good feeling within the squad."




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Related to this story:

Defender Quinn seals Cardiff move (04 Jul 09 |  Cardiff )
Quinn to join Gerrard at Cardiff (02 Jul 09 |  Cardiff )
Cardiff recruit Charlton's Hudson (02 Jul 09 |  Cardiff )
Bluebirds complete Chopra signing (02 Feb 09 |  Cardiff )
Chopra says problems 'behind him' (07 Nov 08 |  Cardiff )
Club backing for troubled Chopra (28 Aug 08 |  Wear )
Sunderland wrap up Chopra signing (13 Jul 07 |  Sunderland )
BBC Sport Wales coverage (03 Feb 09 |  Wales )

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