EL-HADJI Diouf has promised never to let Wanderers down after agreeing to become the club's record signing.

The 24-year-old striker has penned a four-year deal, which has left manager Sam Allardyce "thrilled" is thought to eclipse the £3.5 million paid to Wimbledon for Dean Holdsworth in 1997.

And the Senegalese star wasted no time in telling fans exactly what they could expect next season.

Speaking from Senegal's World Cup training camp in Dakar, a delighted Diouf said: "It is wonderful news that I'll be joining Bolton Wanderers.

"Sam Allardyce is the best manager I've ever worked with. He makes you feel important and most of all lets you play football without worrying about anything else.

"Last season was my best spell for nearly five years and my time at the Reebok gave me an understanding that my career was going nowhere at Liverpool. I played with Bolton on a regular basis and helped them finish amongst the elite in the Premiership.

"The Bolton fans have made me welcome and are always chanting my name. As a player that makes you feel so proud and all you want to do is play to your best and not to let the fans down they mean a lot to me."

Many saw Diouf's arrival from Liverpool on loan at the start of last season as a gamble by Wanderers boss Allardyce, but the striker quickly settled to become a terrace hero at the Reebok Stadium.

Diouf quickly rediscovered the form which had tempted Gerard Houllier to sign him for £10 million from Lens, and he went on to score nine goals in 27 appearances, helping the club into Europe for the first time in their history.

His time at Wanderers so far has certainly not been without incident - but nevertheless, Allardyce was convinced he could once again transform the fortunes of a player considered too erratic for a regular starting place at Anfield.

Allardyce said: "After months of negotiating with Liverpool and the player, I am thrilled that El-Hadji is joining us on a permanent contract.

"He has all the skill in the world to become one of our most significant signings in the modern era of this great club.

"Last season he was a revelation and no one more than him relished the opportunity of resurrecting his career with us.

"We will give him the platform he needs to become one of Europe's top strikers again - that's how much confidence I have in the lad.

"He has had a turbulent last few years, but now he can take all that pressure off his shoulders and concentrate on playing football at the highest level."