Diarra drops Arsenal to join Portsmouth
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Article summary
Portsmouth FC have signed 22-year-old French international midfielder Lassana Diarra from Arsenal FC for a transfer fee thought to be in the region of €7.4m.
Article body
Portsmouth FC have signed France midfielder Lassana Diarra from Arsenal FC for an undisclosed fee thought to be in the region of €7.4m.
On the move
The 22-year-old joined Arsenal last summer from Chelsea FC, two seasons after switching to London from Le Havre AC, but has now accepted a contract with Portsmouth until 2011.
Huge potential
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp said of a player who made only seven Premier League appearances for Arsenal, in addition to 13 for Chelsea: "In my opinion he's already one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and has the ability to be one of the best there is." Diarra made his debut for France against Lithuania last March and, with nine caps to his name, will hope that first-team football will enhance his selection chances for UEFA EURO 2008™. Portsmouth are ninth in the Premier League, five points behind Liverpool FC in fourth place.