Leicester sign Martin Keown

2004-07-20 14:51

Leicester - Division-one club Leicester signed veteran Arsenal defender Martin Keown on Tuesday subject to a medical exam.

Keown, 37, was released from Arsenal in May after 11 seasons at the north London club. Leicester were relegated from the Premier League last season.

"Martin Keown is a leader. I felt that it was important for us to bring a player with that quality to the club after we received the news that Matt Elliott is going to be out for up to 12 weeks following his knee operation," Leicester manager Mickey Adams said.

"We have beaten off a lot of competition from other clubs to secure Martin's signature."

Keown was to undergo a medical later on Tuesday.

Keown was a trainee at Highbury before moving to Aston Villa from 1986 to 1989. He spent four years at Everton before returning to Arsenal in 1993.

Keown played 45 times for England. He was in the squad for the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan but didn't make an appearance.

- AP