EVEN Plymouth Argyle manager Paul Sturrock has admitted his

surprise at the signing of striker Emile Mpenza.

The capture of the 30-year Belgium international will

certainly have caught the attention of the rest of the

Championship.

Mpenza, who boasts vast experience of top flight football in

Belgium, Germany and England, is one of Argyle's most

high-profile signings ever.

He has agreed a one-year contract with the Pilgrims, with an

option for a further 12 months.

One national newspaper has reported Mpenza will be paid

£10,000-a-week in wages.

Mpenza was released by Manchester City at end of last season

after making 25 appearances in the Premier League for them and

scoring five goals.

As he was a free agent, Argyle were able to conclude a deal

for the striker even though the transfer window closed at

midnight on Monday.

Mpenza was at Home Park yesterday to complete his move, and

was set to be officially unveiled at a Press conference this

morning.

Sturrock said: "His agent came to us and we have been

haggling with them for a while.

"When I was with Dundee United, I contemplated taking him

from (Belgian club) Mouscron when he was very young.

"I also thought about taking him to Southampton, and I was

really tempted when I was with Sheffield Wednesday and he was

playing in Germany.

"He has got phenomenal strength and I couldn't believe we

got the opportunity to sign him, but he's here now and we are

looking forward to it."

Mpenza will wear the number 31 shirt for Argyle but, because

of the current international break, he will have to wait until

September 13 to make his debut.

That is when Norwich City will be the visitors to Home

Park.

Winger Nicolas Marin, signed on a season-long loan from

French top flight club Lorient on Monday, could also make his

debut against Norwich.

Sturrock has completely revamped his attacking options over

the past six days, with Marin, Mpenza and Paul Gallagher all

added to his squad.

Gallagher has been snapped up from Premier League club

Blackburn Rovers on a season-long loan. He made his debut in

the Pilgrims' 0-0 draw away to Burnley on Saturday.

Argyle have made a poor start to the Championship campaign,

with only two points from four games, but the capture of

Gallagher, Marin and now Mpenza has lifted the spirits of the

supporters.

Mpenza has played 54 times for Belgium, including at the

1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, and scored 17 goals. His last

game for the Diables Rouges (Red Devils) came in a 2-0 defeat

to Finland in June 2007.

Sturrock said: "He's an international striker and they don't

exactly fall off trees.

"He brings experience to the front line and gives us

something different to what we have had before.

"He's a big, strong boy and he has done it, seen it and got

the t-shirt."

Ipswich Town showed interest in Mpenza earlier in the

summer, while Greek club Skoda Xanthi were also an option for

him.

His agent, Rachid Tajmout, admitted Xanthi had been a 'nice

proposal' for Mpenza.

But, referring to the striker's move to Argyle, Tajmout

added: "The financial aspect was very appealing. Emile is

happy."

Mpenza has had two spells with current Belgian champions

Standard Liege, in addition to playing in the German Bundesliga

for Schalke and Hamburg.

THE PAUL STURROCK REVOLUTION

Plymouth Argyle signings since the start of June

Simon Walton (M) from Queens Park Rangers up to £750,000

Jason Puncheon (M) from Barnet £250,000

Craig Noone (M) from Southport £110,000

Yala Bolasie (M) from Floriana nominal fee

Chris Barker (D) from Queens Park Rangers undisclosed

fee

Karl Duguid (D/M) from Colchester United undisclosed fee

David McNamee (D) from Coventry City free agent

Emile Mpenza (F) from Manchester City free agent

Graham Stack (G) from Reading free agent

Craig Cathcart (D) from Manchester United on loan until

January

Paul Gallagher (F) from Blackburn Rovers on season-long

loan

Nicolas Marin (M) from FC Lorient on season-long loan