LONDON, July 7: Wigan Athletic paid a club record fee of 5.5 million pounds ($10.1 million) on Friday for Birmingham City's former England striker Emile Heskey.

“This is a major coup for Wigan, make no mistake,” manager Paul Jewell told the Premier League club's website after Heskey signed a three-year contract.

“I have said all along I want to bring real quality performers to the club and Emile fits into that category.”

The fee eclipses the 3.1 million pounds Wigan paid Wolverhampton Wanderers for striker Henri Camara last August.

The 28-year-old Heskey has played 43 games for England and scored 122 goals in 439 full appearances for relegated Birmingham, Liverpool and Leicester City.

Heskey said he had been impressed by Wigan's rise through the leagues. “What Wigan have achieved over the past few years is nothing short of amazing,” said the striker.

“I was very impressed with how Paul Jewell sold the club to me, the ambition there is here and the role he sees for me. I cannot wait to get started.”

Wigan will begin their second campaign in the Premier League by visiting Newcastle United on Aug 19. Birmingham were relegated to the second division last season.—Reuters