Clubs: AS Monaco FC, AC Ajaccio (loan), Olympique Lyonnais, Sevilla FC, Arsenal FC

UEFA honours
UEFA Champions League: runner-up 2004

• Made a slow start to his career with Monaco, spending two seasons playing on loan in Corsica with Ajaccio, whom he helped win promotion to Ligue 1 at the second attempt.

• Back at Monaco in 2002/03 he became a fixture under coach Didier Deschamps, finishing runners-up in the league and winning the league cup in his first season; reached the UEFA Champions League final in the second but only appeared in the showpiece versus FC Porto as a late substitute with his team already 3-0 down.

• His first cap for France in August 2004 was followed by a five-game run in FIFA World Cup qualifying, but he was not selected for the finals in Germany after losing his place to the returning Lilian Thuram; made no appearances in UEFA EURO 2008 qualifying or at the finals but was still a member of the squad in Austria/Switzerland.

• Moved to Lyon in 2006, becoming the linchpin of their defence; won two league titles and the French Cup.

• Joined Sevilla on a three-year deal in 2008, helping the Andalusian club to third place in the Liga; scored twice in a 3-1 win at VfB Stuttgart in the 2009/10 UEFA Champions League group stage and helped his side lift the Copa del Rey.

• The experienced defender was included in France's 2010 World Cup squad and played in the final group game against South Africa (1-2) as Les Bleus failed to reach the knockout stages.

• Signed for Arsenal on 26 August 2010 and earned a regular run in the side alongside fellow French recruit Laurent Koscielny; scored his first goal for the Gunners against FK Partizan (3-1) in their second UEFA Champions League group match.