SINGAPORE — Former Arsenal and Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant has agreed terms with S.League club Tampines Rovers, which will make him the highest paid footballer in the history of the domestic professional football league. An announcement will be made by this week, the Englishman revealed.

Speaking to TODAY over lunch at the Zion Riverside Food Centre today (Jan 13), Pennant — whose one-week trial with the Stags ends tomorrow — said he is already looking at various apartments for his new lodging, and his family will visit him on Feb 12.

“Everything has been positive since I landed,” said the former England Under-21 winger, who turns 33 tomorrow. “I have enjoyed training with my Tampines team-mates and learning from the coach (V Sundramoorthy) and chairman (Krishna Ramachandra). You can expect some news either later today or tomorrow.”

When contacted, Tampines Rovers general manager Desmund Khusnin confirmed that a deal is “very close to being completed”.

Shortly after TODAY broke the news today on its website, his wife, supermodel Alice Goodwin, tweeted: “Does anyone know how much it will cost to ship a car from one country to another?”

Pennant, who was once England’s most expensive teenage footballer, also revealed he has no qualms about taking a 70 per cent pay cut from his last-drawn salary with English Championship side Wigan Athletic last season to join the five-time S.League champions. He was reportedly earning £25,000 (S$52,000) a week at Wigan.

A 70 per cent pay cut will put him on about S$62,400 per month here.

Top foreign players in the S.League usually get between S$10,000 and S$12,000 a month.

Former Hungarian midfielder Zsolt Bucs was reportedly one of the highest-paid players in the S.League at US$15,000 (S$21,500) a month with Home United in the late 1990s.

“The monetary hurdle has been crossed long ago. I knew before I flew here I would have to take a big pay cut, but you must look at the bigger picture,” said Pennant.

“If you do well for the S.League and Singapore football, you will be rewarded in different ways and, in the long run, it may be a no-percent pay cut.

“Furthermore, there are other things here in Singapore that I value much more than money.”

He cited Singapore’s stability, safety, cleanliness and a good education system as pull factors that make him want to raise his family here.

“The culture is good and very relaxed,” said Pennant, whose wife, nine-year-old daughter Esme and five-year-old son Trey will arrive here next month. “Plus there’s nothing to worry about (in terms of safety and security) and there are no language barriers here as most Singaporeans speak English. I have heard the education system here is great. You drive on the right side, too.

“The people are friendly and the fans are passionate. Everything is great.” He added: “I am going to send the word back home that Singapore is a good place to be at and I am hoping to get the other EPL (English Premier League) stars to come out here and have a go. I am sure it would be appealing to them.”

Tampines coach Sundramoorthy said he is pleased to hear that Pennant may soon be part of his squad. What made a particularly deep impression on the former Singapore international was the way Pennant carried himself during the week-long trial.

“Since the first day, he has had no airs about him, and he integrated easily with the local boys,” said Sundramoorthy. “He has been carrying himself well, helping to carry the training equipment and working hard on the field. He has also been a role model to the younger players. If he clears his medical, and stays injury-free, he will definitely help to liven up the S.League.”

Over the past week in Singapore, Pennant said he has received offers from other clubs in the region but made Singapore his priority.

“The minute I got here, it was in the media and a few teams from South Korea, Australia and Malaysia got in touch,” he said. “In fact, they offered much more than what I could possibly get here in Singapore.

“But the chairman has a project and I am happy with it. So, sorry to the rest, but I am staying in Singapore.”