Jason Koumas Bio Send To Friend  

Wigan agreed a deal for Welshman Jason Koumas in July 2007, for a fee of £5.3million, making him one of the club's most expensive players.

The midfielder joined the Latics from West Brom and has been deployed as the club's playmaker after the sale of Jimmy Bullard to Fulham.

Koumas began his career with Tranmere Rovers, progressing through the youth ranks and eventually breaking into the first team in 1998.

He has the ability to run all day, he reads the game well and has an excellent shot as he proved with his first thunderous strike for Tranmere against Huddersfield Town.

Koumas surprisingly stayed with Tranmere after they were relegated out of the First Division but he spent just the one season in the Second Division before he earned a long overdue crack at the Premiership.

Koumas was signed by newboys West Bromwich Albion just before the end of August 2002. The Baggies paid £2.25million, with a further £250,000 payable when the player reached 75 appearances.

One of their most consistent performers through a season in which the club were relegated again, Koumas picked up the Player of the Season award.

However, back in the First Division he was a real star, bagging ten goals as West Brom finished as runners-up and claimed their place back in the top flight. Although two red cards in the final five games resulted in a four-game ban at the start of the 2004/05 Premiership campaign.

In July 2004 he handed in a transfer request, which was rejected, and only a week later he signed an improved four-year contract at The Hawthorns. But the 2004/05 season did not go well, partly due to a loss of form and also injury and he was loaned out to Cardiff City for the season.

Koumas was an instant hit back in Wales, winning the club's Player of the Year award and getting himself a place in the Championship's PFA team of the season. But he was not allowed to transfer to the club on a permanent basis.

After a falling out with West Brom and manager Bryan Robson, Koumas' career was rejuvinated under new boss Tony Mowbray. He put in some great performances in the 2006/07 season but at the end of the season, decided to move to Wigan.

A talented, creative midfielder, Koumas did not take the Premier League by storm in 2007/08, although Latics' fans can expect to see a lot more of him in the future.