Ivory Coast defender signs until the end of the season

Wigan Athletic have confirmed that Ivory Coast international defender Steven Gohouri has signed at the DW Stadium until the end of the season, becoming Roberto Martinez' second signing of the January transfer window after Serbian international goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic arrived last week.

The 28 year old, who is a free agent after leaving German Bundesliga team Borussia Mönchengladbach in December, has impressed Martinez enough during a trial period over the past few weeks for the Latics manager to offer him terms until the summer.

Martinez said: "Steven has a fantastic attitude and is desperate to play for Wigan Athletic.

"He has good experience, having played in several European leagues and in what has been a very difficult period for clubs because of the weather interrupting the training routines, he has gone about his business very professionally and shown us he has the potential to play in the best league in the world.

"He is a tremendous athlete, very powerful in the air, strong in the tackle and technically excellent. He will add serious competition for places in the squad and I am delighted to welcome him into the Wigan Athletic family."

Gohouri has scored three goals in two appearances for The Ivory Coast, netting twice on his debut against against Mauritius, and scoring another against Madagascar. With his country playing in the World Cup this summer, he has targeted a place in the Latics team as a potential route to South Africa.


"I am so grateful that Wigan have given me a chance to prove myself," he says, "and I am desperate to repay that faith and show the manager, the club, and the supporters that they have made a good choice.

"There is a lot of quality in the squad but it's up to me now to force my way into the team and make an impression."

The 6 ft 3 inch defender began his career with Paris Saint Germain in France but it was in Switzerland, with Yverdon, Vaduz and Young Boys of Bern that he really made his mark, earning a big money move to Germany in 2007. He played 45 games in the Bundesliga for Borussia.