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‘Not a publicity stunt’ – 9th tier club pull off shock signing with ex-Premier League player

‘Not a publicity stunt’ – 9th tier club FC St Helens pull off shock signing with ex-Premier League player Jefferson Montero joining.

Montero joins the North West Counties Premier League side, marking a significant move in his career from professional to semi-professional football.

The 35 year old, who previously played for Swansea City and made 64 senior international appearances for Ecuador, will now play under Michael Smith at FC St Helen.

The club, which was formed in 2014, has enjoyed a rise through the football pyramid, gaining promotion from the Cheshire Football League and achieving a strong debut season in their current league, currently sitting 8th with 49 points from 30 games played.

Mark Hayes, Head of the enterprise and Sporting Director at FC St Helens said: โ€œI am absolutely delighted to bring Jefferson to FC St Helens. With SMS Pro Soccer, I work with Antonio Valenciaโ€™s academy in Ecuador, AV25, and Jefferson has been playing there.

โ€œThere are some incredible talents at AV25, they have had three promotions in three years. However, we have been lucky enough to sign the one who is ex Premier League and La Liga!

โ€œThis isnโ€™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.โ€

In a tweet, he said: “What is great about leading @SMSProSoccer is that I get closer to players like @JeffMONTERO23.

“It’s been a crazy couple of weeks but international clearance is through & he will be ready to go very soon. His commitment is immense & he has been in the gym daily since agreeing to sign.

“Huge thanks to his club AV25 & their amazing leader in @anto_v25, & of course good friend Julio who was key to the signing. Welcome Jefferson ๐Ÿ”ดโšช๏ธ Exciting times ๐Ÿค๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡จ #UpTheStripes #SwanseaCity #EPL #SMSProSoccer #Tours #Trials #TalentID”

Manager of FC St Helens, Michael Smith, tweeted: “Jefferson is available for sponsorship, ยฃ5,000 home shirt, and ยฃ5,000 away shirt. If you want to do both, ยฃ9,999.

“He’s still got a lot about him, too ๐Ÿคฉ His biggest challenge… understanding me ๐Ÿ˜‚ #UpTheStripes ๐Ÿ”ดโšช๏ธ”

He’s expected to potentially make his debut on the 25th of January for the trip to Colne.

HIS CAREER:

Youth career
Emelec

Senior career
2007 – Emelec – 22 games (2 goals)
2008โ€“2009 – Independiente Josรฉ Teran – 37 games (19 goals)
2008 โ†’ Dorados (loan) – 5 games (1 goal)
2009โ€“2010 – Villarreal B – 32 games (10 goals)
2010โ€“2012 – Villarreal – 20 games (2 goals)
2011 โ†’ Levante (loan) – 11 games(0 goals)
2011โ€“2012 โ†’ Betis (loan) – 34 games (1 goal)
2012โ€“2014 – Morelia – 74 games (15 goals)
2014โ€“2020 – Swansea City – 84 games (2 goals)
2017โ€“2018 โ†’ Getafe (loan) – 4 games (0 goals)
2018 โ†’ Emelec (loan) – 14 games (1 goal)
2019 โ†’ West Bromwich Albion (loan) – 4 games (1 goal)
2019โ€“2020 โ†’ Birmingham City (loan) – 18 games (0 goals)
2021โ€“2022 Querรฉtaro – 30 games (0 goals)
2022 – 9 de Octubre – 7 games (0 goals)
2023 – Aucas – 13 (0 goals)
2024 – Academia AV – 1 game (0 goals)
2025โ€“ FC St Helens – 0 games (0 goals)

International career
2007โ€“2018 – Ecuador – 64 games (10 goals)

Fans reacted as 9th tier club pull off a shock signing with the ex-Premier League player…

@FarnhamTownfan: Felicitaciones!!!!!!

@nocontextfm1: What in the Football Manager

@StevenLFC22: Welcome to a great club

@ItsToeKneeAgain: This is mental ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚ what a signing

@louissmith22: Well this is random

@divdogz04: Fair play ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚

@danny_c157: Crazy work this @8M_Smith7 couldโ€™ve pulled off the signing of the January window here @fcsthelens ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ

@pattoJPN1: Not lasting 2 weeks this. Just Get him to Marine, Linnets or Cables immediately. Pick your level chief. No point in him getting settled youz canโ€™t keep him sorry.

@NLNatter: I love non league football

@LinnetsTVJackMc: Wow, remember him playing for Swansea

@dylmogz28: Iโ€™d take him back now

@Gareth_beef: Viva Montero, viva Monterooooo

@scottelderr: Guy had about 4 good games a season and 2 of them were against Hector Bellerin. Never seen anyone do him for speed the way Montero did.

@tomhwilliams23: Iโ€™m sorry? ๐Ÿ˜…

@JohnPepCourtney: Absolute scenes

@DiegoMax90: We St. Helens supporters now? Yup. ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡จ

@wbaa_j: jesus christ. #FreeMontero real ones remember.

@MyNath14: What the actual fuck ๐Ÿ˜‚

@heyit5sam: Non league never fails to amaze me

@FraserSport1: Branislav Ivanovic still has nightmares.

@_CFlaherty_: Some signing that for @fcsthelens. โšฝ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป

@BlazeMeister78: At only 35, that is a truly obscene signing for that level of Football ๐Ÿ˜ฒ๐Ÿ˜ฒ๐Ÿ˜ฒ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘Œ

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