ENGLISH Championship side Wigan Athletic have completed the signing of defender Cedric Kipre from Motherwell for an undisclosed fee.

The 21-year-old signed a three-year deal the DW Stadium yesterday, with the deal netting the Fir Park club a significant fee up front, and it is believed that they could eventually rake in over £1million for a player they signed for nothing last summer.

While disappointed to have lost a key player just a couple of days before their first league match of the season, Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson assured fans that plans to bring in a replacement are well advanced.

“Although it’s with a heavy heart that we lose Cédric, his progress over the last year has been remarkable,” Robinson said.

“He has the potential to go all the way to the top in my opinion and we very much wish him well in his future career.

“We have been working on a potential replacement and hope to have something completed on that front as soon as possible.”

Kipre added: “I would like to thank everyone at Motherwell, especially the manager and the fans, for everything they have done for me.

“I loved it at the club and it was hard to leave, but this is a really big move for my family and I and we are excited by the challenge.

“Motherwell will always have a special place in my heart though and I will be cheering the team on wherever I am.”