Former Blackpool striker Armand Gnanduillet signs for new club after surprise Turkish exit

The Championship leaders have signed the 28-year-old to an 18-month deal, claiming to have beaten off competition from sides in England's second tier.

The striker was offered a new contract to remain at Bloomfield Road at the end of last season after finishing the campaign as the club’s top scorer with 18 goals from 36 games in all competitions.

But the Frenchman opted to seek pastures new, eventually joining Turkish Second Division side Altay SK despite previously harbouring hopes of moving to a club in the Championship.

But the move didn't pan out as expected, Gnanduillet scoring just two goals from his 15 appearances, most of which came off the bench.

The striker parted ways with the club, who play their football in the Turkish second tier, last month.

“It’s no secret we’ve been looking for a striker and I’m delighted to get Armand in because he ticks all of the boxes," Hearts boss Robbie Neilson said.

“He’s quick, strong and has a real presence about him and, of course, he can score goals.

"There was a lot of interest in him elsewhere from some big clubs so to get him signed up is a bit of coup."

“He’ll bring something different to the team and I’m looking forward to working with him.”

Gnanduillet first joined the Seasiders in the summer of 2016 after spending time with Chesterfield, Tranmere Rovers, Oxford United, Stevenage and Leyton Orient.

He helped the club seal an instant return to League One in his first season, scoring a vital header during the play-off semi-final second leg against Luton Town.

The bustling forward briefly left the Fylde Coast in 2018 to sign for South African outfit Baroka FC, only to return to Bloomfield Road two months later.

Baroka failed to register the Frenchman having already exceeded their foreign player quota.

Gnanduillet enjoyed his most prolific season to date during the 2017/18 campaign, scoring 14 times.

He went one better last term, topping Blackpool’s scoring charts with 15 league goals which saw him sit joint second in the list of League One’s top marksmen.

His impressive form attracted the attention of Charlton Athletic during the January transfer window after the Addicks had come close to signing him the previous summer.

Gnanduillet left the club having netted 43 times in 145 games for the Seasiders.

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