Wolves sign Hearts star Jonsson

EGGERT JONSSON was today unveiled as a Wolves player as Hearts continued their bid to slash their crippling wage bill.

The Icelandic internationalist shook hands on a three-and-a-half-year deal in the West Midlands with Mick McCarthy before Wolves’ 2-2 draw with Norwich last night. The Jambos and their English counterparts had last week agreed a fee for the player, thought to total £250,000 plus add-ons.

The versatile Jonsson will leave Tynecastle with a heavy heart after more than six years in the Capital but this morning said he was “really excited” at the opportunity to join the English Premier League club.

“I’m really pleased to be here and looking forward to getting started,” said Jonsson. “I’m looking forward to getting into training and then fighting to get into the team.

“Hopefully I can bring something to the squad and help the club. It’s all happened fairly quickly for me. It was last week when I first heard of it and then it was a case of coming down for the medical.

“It happened quickly and as soon as I knew of Wolves’ interest I was really excited and saw it as a great opportunity. I’ve been up in Scotland for a long time and feel ready to take the next step. Wolves is a great club for me to do that so hopefully I can get into the team and keep improving.

“I’ve been at Hearts for seven years and have got a lot of friends so it’s sad to be leaving them behind and I’ve enjoyed my time there. I played in Europe there as well. I’ve also played a fair few internationals and hopefully I can bring my best form to Wolves and continue to improve.”

Jonsson, 23, moved from KF Fjardabyggd in his homeland in July 2005 and had turned down the offer of a new deal at Hearts, with his contract set to expire at the end of the current campaign. He became one of 14 players transfer-listed as the Hearts board announced plans to trim the wage bill of playing staff. A handful of players have been handed free transfers in recent weeks, but Jonsson is the first player to command a fee. I’ll go home for Christmas and then hopefully come back [to Wolverhampton] pretty soon afterwards,” said Jonsson. “I can be training with the team and be available for selection once the registration goes through. I’m pleased everything is sorted now and I can start thinking about impressing in training.

“I’ve met the manager and I liked the way he came across to me. He seems to be doing things the right way and hopefully I’ll help him here and he’ll help me. I’m really looking forward to working with him.”

Jonsson’s final act of a Hearts career that spanned 153 appearances and nine goals was seeing his penalty saved by Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster earleir this month. He will join former Jambos team-mate Christophe Berra at Molineux, with the Scotland international having travelled the same path from Tynecastle in January 2009.

“I spoke to Christophe when I first arrived here and asked him about the club,” said Jonsson. “We played together for three years at Hearts and he’s a good mate of mine. I’m glad to team up with him again.”

Meanwhile, Hearts’ home game against Celtic in the SPL, postponed from Saturday, January 28, has been resceduled for Wednesday, February 8. The match will be screened live by Sky Sports.

The Hoops are set to face Falkirk in the semi final of the Scottish Communities League Cup on the weekend of the original date.