The former Liverpool and Arsenal star, 34, spent last season playing in League One for Bury after moving back to England. He’d previously been out in Singapore playing for Tampine Rovers. But now Pennant, who played in the 2007 Champions League final, has agreed to drop down to the SEVENTH tier of English football to sign on with Billericay. There he will link up with fellow former pros Paul Konchesky and Jamie O’Hara, his close friend. Pennant had appeared for Hibs in pre-season and they were keen on signing the winger themselves. But Pennant has rejected a move and will pick up around £3,000-a-week at Billericay, whose dramatic spending spree is being overseen by millionaire steel magnate Glenn Tamplin.

Tamplin bought the club last year and is spending close to £30,000-a-week in wages to try and fire Billericay to promotion - and ultimately the Football League.



Tamplin told The Sun: “Jermaine will be a great signing and will help us get to where we want to go.



“We all know he is a top player. He is good mates with Jamie O’Hara and when he heard about what we are doing, he let it know he wanted to come here.



“The fact Jermaine chose us over Hibs shows how much we are growing.



“Jermaine’s ability will make us even stronger and his experience will help our younger players reach the next level.”