Sky Sports confirm Premier League icon as new pundit as overhaul continues
Daniel Sturridge has joined Sky Sports' punditry team.
Former Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City striker Sturridge was tested out and trialled as a pundit on Sky last season, and after impressing company bosses will now become a regular for the broadcaster as they continue to revamp their football coverage.
"The Premier League season kicks off tonight and I am excited to be a part of it all with Sky Sports," Sturridge said. "I'm looking forward to using my experience on the pitch and bringing this insight to the fans watching at home. It is set to be an exciting season ahead and it's great to be part of the Sky Sports team bringing you all the action."
The 33-year-old spent the vast majority of his career in the Premier League, scoring 77 goals in 218 appearances and winning the league with Chelsea back in 2010. Sturridge will now join the likes of Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Roy Keane and Micah Richards as a pundit more than a year after his stint at Australian club Perth Glory came to an end.
"Daniel has been an outstanding striker for three of the biggest clubs in the Premier League and he'll bring all of his fantastic playing experience and incredible knowledge of the game to our coverage this season," Sky's director of football Gary Hughes added.
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"We welcome him to the team and all of us at Sky Sports are looking forward to what's set to be a season full of drama and entertainment." Sturridge is the latest name to join Sky's football coverage this season, with Peter Drury replacing Martin Tyler as lead commentator and Simon Thomas taking over from Jeff Stelling as Soccer Saturday's new presenter.
Tunnel reporter Geoff Shreeves has left the broadcaster after 32 years, while pundit Graeme Souness has also departed. Soccer AM has been axed after nearly 30 years, with presenters John 'Fenners' Fendley and Tubes subsequently leaving Sky after the decision to cancel the show was announced.
Sturridge has previously made one-off appearances on Sky, but will now be a fixture on their broadcasts (Sky Sports)Sky is not the only broadcaster to have made major changes ahead of the new season, with BT Sport rebranding as TNT Sports after a merger between Warner Bros. Discovery and BT Group.
Laura Woods will lead their new all-female presenting team following Jake Humphrey's departure after the Champions League final. Lynsey Hipgrave and Reshmin Chowdhury will also front TNT's coverage, while Jules Breach will present Europa League games and conduct pitchside interviews as a replacement for veteran journalist Des Kelly.
Rangers legend Ally McCoist has joined TNT as a co-commentator for Premier League and Champions League games and will continue to present talkSPORT's Breakfast Show.
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