Ex-England international Paul Merson to play for fourth-tier side Caerau

Credit: PA

Welsh fourth-tier team Caerau have signed former England and Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson.

Caerau secretary Dai Hooper confirmed to ITV Wales all the required paperwork had now come through which will make the 49-year-old available for the home match against Pontyclun on October 18.

Merson, who won 21 England caps, was part of the Arsenal team which won the First Division championship in both 1988/89 and 1990/91 as well as the 1993 FA Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup in 1994.

The midfielder left Highbury for Middlesbrough in 1997 and also had spells with Aston Villa, Portsmouth and Walsall, going on to manage the Saddlers between 2004 and 2006 before taking up a role as a media pundit for Sky Sports.

Hooper hopes the presence of Merson, whom he got to know after they met at a function, can help raise the profile of the Maesteg side.

Paul Merson played for eight clubs and won 21 caps for England during his playing career. Credit: A/PA Archive/PA Images