OFFICIAL: Milan signs Onyewu!

It is official! We have signed Oguchi Onyewu from Standard Liege on a free transfer until 30 June 2012.

oops! now I realized what happened! I shouldn't posted this, should I?

Who? From Standard Liege? Panic buy? Or only want to satisfy fans, Mattioni 2. version?

*remembering mrki posts*

we needed more bench warmers

Is he really better than Kala, Bonera..?

Dumb move by a dumb management. It never ends

Welcome Gooch! I think you can be a very pleasant surprise to a lot of Milan fans who don't know you as well as I do.

EXCLUSIVE: Alexi Lalas: 'A Brilliant Move' By Milan And Onyewu
The former U.S. international and Serie A defender is full of praise for Oguchi Onyewu's transfer to AC Milan.
7 Jul 2009 13:57:42
Oguchi Onyewu, USA, June 2009 (ISI)
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Oguchi Onyewu, USA, June 2009 (ISI)
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When the news of Oguchi Onyewu’s signing with Italian giants AC Milan broke, former US star Alexi Lalas smiled. The only American international to play in Serie A in the modern era, Lalas was pleased to see another compatriot finally get a chance in Italy’s top league - and believes the Rossoneri’s decision to sign Onyewu was very intelligent.

“I think it’s an incredibly smart move by AC Milan,” Lalas told Goal.com. “Defence has obviously been a weakness for Milan and from an economic standpoint it was also obvious that they weren’t going to spend lavishly. So they had to be smart with their money. Onyewu isn’t a big name player, he’s relatively young, he’s inexpensive and as far as I’m concerned he’s as good a centre-back as what they already have.”

'Gooch', as Onyewu is nicknamed, arrives in Milan on a free transfer from Belgian side Standard Liege. The 6’4” centre-half was a big part of the back-to-back championships won by Les Rouches and the side’s run to the knock-out stage of last season’s UEFA Cup. These experiences have been vital to his progress, Lalas says, and were definitely a factor in the signing.

“Regardless of the fact that he’s American, he has proven himself in Europe, albeit at a smaller league,” Lalas said. “Milan have been able to track him and see him play.”

Lalas, who played for Calcio Padova in Serie A from 1994-96, has no advice for Onyewu except to “learn Italian as quickly as possible”. The pressure, Lalas says, will not come from the jersey Onyewu is wearing but the passport he holds.

“Obviously playing at one of the world’s biggest clubs there will be pressure,” Lalas said. “But on the other hand, you’re also playing with very good players. The pressure will be more because he’s an American than the fact that he’s playing at AC Milan.”

But Lalas believes Onyewu has the tools to overcome any of the pressures and succeed in Italy’s top league.

“Most Italian clubs have at least one big forward, an Ibrahimovic, a Iaquinta, or whoever, and I think he’ll match up very well against those big forwards that a lot of these teams have,” Lalas said. “As a matter of fact, I think he’ll gobble them up.”


goal.com

I will say that he played extremely well against Spain at the Confederations Cup.

@ Rick

Could you tell some more about this guy?

I forgot to say : Welcome Onyewu! (whoever you are)

EDIT : channel4 says he has Belgian pass.

Welcome Onyewu.
This is one of those out of nowhere obviously. He has a Belgian passport.

I know USNT doesnt get too much love but if he has a hard work ethic im content with this signing.

Yes he isnt a big name player but his size and strength is amazing. I just hope he learns more from Nesta.

Forza Milan!

he is a very decent defender, better then Bonera and Kala, now he is not the world class Terry, but he is very close. The advantage is his strength and hight

@27 y.o...... Who!

This dude couldn't cut the cheese at Newcastle United and now he is wearing a Milan shirt. Wow, what a brilliant move! This mercato just keeps getting worse and worse.