BOLTON, England (AP) _ Striker Nicolas Anelka signed a four-year contract with Bolton on Friday in a transfer from Fenerbahce worth eight million pounds ($16.7 million Cdn).

``Patience is a virtue and I am pleased to say that all the waiting and hard work we've done behind the scenes has paid off,'' Bolton manager Sam Allardyce said. ``Nicolas is a player with an amazing track record in the Premiership _ he was born to score goals. His talent and experience will be a valuable asset for us.''

The Frenchman signed after completing a medical. Contract terms were not disclosed.

Anelka is Bolton's record signing, eclipsing the
3.5-million-pound ($7.3 million Cdn) fee it paid Wimbledon for Dean
Holdsworth in 1997.

The 27-year-old Anelka, who joined Fenerbahce from Manchester City in a nine-million-euro ($12.7 million Cdn) move in January 2005, returns to the Premier League where he has scored 79 goals in 216 games with Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal. He also played at Paris St. Germain and Real Madrid.

He has scored seven goals in 31 games for France, but didn't make the World Cup squad.