Dyer and Bothroyd sign for Queens Park Rangers

Posted on July 14, 2011 by SoccerPunter

Newly promoted Queens Park Rangers announced Wednesday they had signed England internationals Kieron Dyer and Jay Bothroyd ahead of their return to English Premier League action.

Midfielder Dyer, 32, has joined on a one-year contract after becoming a free agent following London rivals West Ham’s relegation from the English Premier League.

Bothroyd, 29, also a free agent, has arrived at Loftus Road from Cardiff after the Welsh club missed out on promotion to the English Premier League during last season’s playoffs.

Dyer’s career has been blighted by injuries in recent seasons but the former Ipswich and Newcastle player was looking forward to a fresh start under QPR boss Neil Warnock.

“I’m just delighted to be here,” Dyer told west London club QPR’s official website. “I’ve got something to prove after the couple of years I’ve had, but I feel good and I’m really looking forward to next season.”

Warnock added: “When a player of Kieron’s ability becomes available, you’d be crazy not to be interested.

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s a gamble worth taking…I instantly liked him when we met. You get feelings like that as a manager.”

Earlier Wednesday, Bothroyd signed a three-year deal in a move marking a return to Rangers for the striker, who was with the club’s centre of excellence from the age of nine before moving to Arsenal.

“I spoke to the manager and he told me how much he wanted me,” Bothroyd told the QPR website.

“He convinced me that this was the right place to be. He told me the direction that he wants to go in and the way he wants to play. I think this club is heading in the right direction and has got a lot of ambition.”

Bothroyd, who made his England debut last season following an impressive campaign with Cardiff, admits the prospect of Premier League football was something he could not turn down.

“I want to be playing against the best players in the world,” he added.

“People say that I’m a ‘one-cap wonder’ and I want to get that second cap to put that to bed.

Warnock added: “In bringing Jay in, we have managed to secure an excellent player which augers well for the forthcoming campaign.

“We have been chasing him for a number of weeks and it has been frustrating at times.

“We have had to have a lot of patience with this but, as the saying goes, good things come to those who wait.”