Football: Queens Park Rangers sign 'monster' Samba for club-record fee

LONDON (REUTERS) - Queens Park Rangers have signed defender Christopher Samba for an undisclosed club-record fee from Anzhi Makhachkala, the Premier League team said on Thursday.

The 28-year-old centre back has signed a four-and-a-half year contract with the struggling west London club, subject to the player receiving international clearance.

Samba, a Congo international with 26 caps, spent five years in England with Blackburn Rovers from 2007-2012 and joined Rangers after an 11-month stint at Russian club Anzhi.

"This is an unbelievable signing," QPR manager Harry Redknapp said on the club website. "(Chairman) Tony Fernandes deserves a lot of credit for this one - he has worked so hard on bringing him in.