Luggy thrilled to land 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
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