Briand leaves Rennes for Lyon

Stade Rennais FC winger Jimmy Briand has become Olympique Lyonnais' first signing of the summer, leaving the club where he has spent his entire professional career to sign a four-year contract with the 2009/10 Ligue 1 runners-up.

The 24-year-old right winger scored 33 goals in 169 league appearances for Rennes, including five in 23 games last season. He promised that his style would not change as he left for the UEFA Champions League group stage contenders. "I am delighted to be at Lyon," he said. "I am going to keep on playing with the same fighting spirit, and I hope I will score lots of goals and bring happiness to the fans."

Lyon coach Claude Puel was delighted to have signed Briand, who has been capped three times for France. "We can only be happy with the signing of a player like Jimmy," said Puel. "We were lacking a player who could play between the lines. Now we have more options up front. He is very professional and will fit perfectly into our group mentality."