West Brom’s pursuit of European competition saw them recruit high-profile players like Nicolas Anelka. However, Anelka’s time at the club turned disastrous due to controversies such as a controversial goal celebration and allegations of anti-Semitism. His contract termination marked the end of a tumultuous period for the club.
Anelka came to West Brom with a huge pedigree
Anelka has had an illustrious career in the Premier League, showcasing his talent with several clubs and also contributing to successful French national teams.
He began his journey in France with Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Arsenal in 1997, where he achieved significant success and was even recognized as one of the top 50 Greatest Gunners of all time.
Anelka then had stints at Real Madrid and returned to PSG before briefly joining Liverpool on loan in the 2001/2002 season. His permanent move to Manchester City followed in 2002, before he ventured to Fenerbahce in Turkey and then returned to England with Bolton Wanderers.
His impressive performances at Bolton earned him a move to Chelsea in 2008, where he spent four successful years before heading to China to play for Shanghai Shenhua. Anelka later had a brief loan spell at Juventus before returning to England once again, this time joining West Bromwich Albion on a free transfer after his time in China.
| Nicolas Anelka’s career stats by English club (as per Transfermarkt) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Club | Appearances | Goals |
| Chelsea | 184 | 59 |
| Manchester City | 103 | 45 |
| Arsenal | 90 | 28 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 61 | 23 |
| Liverpool | 22 | 5 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 12 | 2 |
Anelka’s West Brom spell was disastrous
Anelka’s arrival at West Bromwich Albion in July 2013 was initially seen as a significant achievement given his impressive career. However, trouble surfaced early as reports suggested he had left training and planned to retire immediately, although the club denied these claims.
The situation escalated in December when Anelka’s goal celebration, featuring a controversial hand gesture known as the quenelle, sparked allegations of anti-Semitism. This led to an FA investigation and subsequent disciplinary action, resulting in Anelka being banned for five matches and fined £80,000.
Just a month later, Anelka announced via social media that he was terminating his contract with West Brom. The club responded by stating they had received no prior indication of his departure and subsequently terminated his contract due to gross misconduct after issuing a 14-day notice.
Overall, Anelka’s time at West Brom was marred by controversies and missteps, culminating in a situation the club would likely want to distance itself from, leaving a bitter memory for both fans and the club.
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Aondofa Vershima 
Jonathan Jonathan