BBC SPORTArabicSpanishRussianChinese
BBCiNEWS  SPORT  WEATHER  WORLD SERVICE  A-Z INDEX   SEARCH 

BBC Sport
 You are in: Football 
Sport Front Page
-------------------
Football
Teams
Statistics
FA Cup
Eng Prem
Internationals
Champions League
Uefa Cup
Eng Div 1
Eng Div 2
Eng Div 3
Eng Conf
Scot Prem
Scottish Cup
Scot Div 1
Scot Div 2
Scot Div 3
Europe
Africa
League of Wales
Cricket
Rugby Union
Rugby League
Tennis
Golf
Motorsport
Boxing
Athletics
Other Sports
-------------------
Special Events
-------------------
Sports Talk
-------------------
BBC Pundits
TV & Radio
Question of Sport
-------------------
Photo Galleries
Funny Old Game
-------------------
Around The UK: 
N Ireland
Scotland
Wales

BBC Sport Academy
News image
BBC News
News image
BBC Weather
News image
SERVICES
-------------
LANGUAGES
EDITIONS

Friday, 23 August, 2002, 12:33 GMT 13:33 UK
Niemi transfer delayed
Antti Niemi with one of his many player of the month awards
Antti Niemi is first-choice keeper for Finland
Hearts' Finnish International goalkeeper, Antti Niemi, will sign for Southampton on Tuesday, after the Monday Bank Holiday.

The 30-year-old has agreed personal terms with the English Premiership club and was undergoing a medical on Friday.

A fee of �2m has been agreed, Hearts having rejected an initial offer of �1.5m.

Hearts chief executive Chris Robinson says he is "very sorry" to see Niemi leave but is "happy" with the deal.

It is believed that it involves a sell-on clause should the goalkeeper leave St Mary's.

Southampton had hoped that Niemi would make his debut against Liverpool on Saturday, but he is instead in the Hearts squad to face Dunfermline Athletic.


He (Niemi) is the first choice for Finland and keeps Peter Enckelman and Jussi Jaaskelainen out of the national team
Rupert Lowe
Southampton chairman
The only remaining obstacle is how and when the fee is paid.

Chairman Rupert Lowe said: "We hope the deal will go through quite smoothly, because everything seems to be settled and we are delighted to have got him.

"He is the first choice for Finland and keeps Peter Enckelman and Jussi Jaaskelainen out of the national team.

"He speaks perfect English, organises the defence well and we hope he will make a major contribution.

"He's the perfect age for a keeper and fans will no doubt recall that he played a blinder for Finland to keep out Germany so England qualified for the World Cup."

Saints boss Gordon Strachan tried to sign Niemi from FC Copenhagen when was manager of Coventry City, but the Finn chose Rangers instead.

Niemi found first-team opportunities hard to come by at Ibrox and moved to Hearts.

But financial problems meant the Edinburgh side had to sell their star performer.

Niemi's imminent arrival at Southampton is likely to mean bad news for long-time first-choice Paul Jones, who made an error for Wales in the 1-1 draw with Croatia on Wednesday.

 WATCH/LISTEN
 ON THIS STORY
Hearts head coach Craig Levein
"It's a good bit of business"
Hearts chief executive Chris Robinson
"We could not turn it down"
All the latest news on Southampton

News and Statistics

Match coverage

Daily club news
See also:

21 Aug 02 | Sunderland
Links to more Football stories are at the foot of the page.


E-mail this story to a friend

Links to more Football stories

© BBC^^ Back to top

Sport Front Page | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League |
Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Boxing | Athletics | Other Sports |
Special Events | Sports Talk | BBC Pundits | TV & Radio | Question of Sport |
Photo Galleries | Funny Old Game | N Ireland | Scotland | Wales