Former Premier League legend Jefferson Montero has joined a non-league club in the most bizarre transfer of the January window so far.
Montero spent five years playing in England and made 66 Premier League appearances having played at Swansea City, West Brom and Birmingham City.
The winger also boasts 63 appearances for Ecuador, including three at the World Cup, and has scored ten goals for his country.
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But now, the 35-year-old has shocked football fans after it was confirmed he completed perhaps the weirdest transfer of the season by joining a non-league side.
On Friday, it was announced that Montero had officially joined FC St Helens, who play in the Premier Division of the North West Counties League, the ninth-tier of English football.
The Ecuadorian international made the decision to join the club as part of his association with SMS Pro Soccer.
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At the time of joining, St Helens sit eighth in the league and are just four points off the play-off places.
Speaking about the signing, Club sporting director Mark Hayes insisted that the signing of Montero was not a publicity stunt and was to help both St Helens and to raise the profile of Ecuardorian footballers in England.
He said: "I am absolutely delighted to bring Jefferson to FC St Helens.
"With SMS Pro Soccer, I work with Antonio Valencia’s academy in Ecuador, AV25, and Jefferson has been playing there.
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"This isn’t a publicity stunt.
"Jefferson is still hungry, having only recently stopped playing, and is exactly what FC St Helens needs for the second half of the season push."
Montero has lived in England for two months prior to signing the deal and will reportedly play for the team for no cost without a salary.
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Reacting to the news, one football fan wrote: "I love Non-League Football."
While one claimed : "Definitely the most random transfer of all time."
And another added: "This is absolutely not what I expected to read today!"
The winger was previously set to play in LigaPro, the Ecuadorian league, but he revealed that he was forced to leave the country out of fear for the safety of his family.
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Speaking to Ecuadorian outlet Extra, he said: "First, what happened with a close relative, then experiencing the threats of insecurity, forced me to leave the country.
"I didn't want to do it, but my family's life is my priority above all."
Topics: Non-League, Transfer News, Ecuador, Premier League, Swansea City, Birmingham City, Transfers
Ben McCrum