Rennes add Ivanov to their ranks

French side Stade Rennais FC have completed the signing of PFC Levski Sofia forward Georgi Ivanov for €4.2m, a day after Petr Cech, the outstanding Czech Republic goalkeeper, also moved to the club from AC Sparta Praha.

Three-year contract
Ivanov has signed a three-year contract with the club, who finished 12th in the French championship last season. Nicknamed 'Gonzo', Ivanov has played 24 matches for the Bulgarian national team, scoring four goals. At Levski, Ivanov won three championship titles, two Bulgarian Cups and two Bulgarian Footballer of the Year awards, as well as topping the goalscoring charts in the 2000/01 season.

'We are sad to see him leave'
Upon confirming the deal, Michail Cherney, the Levski president, said: "The most important thing is that Gonzo's personal requirements are fulfilled as we had promised to let him go if there was a good offer from a foreign club. He is a great footballer who did a lot for our club. We are sad to see him leave and it will be hard to cope without him in the [UEFA] Champions League but that's life."

Second-highest fee
Levski, who will hold a press conference in Vienna to announce the transfer later today, will receive 15 per cent of any transfer fee should Ivanov be sold on by Rennes. The deal is the second-highest paid for a Bulgarian player leaving the country after the €4.7m transfer of Stilian Petrov to Scottish champions Celtic FC from PFC CSKA Sofia in 1999.