Auxerre get Grichting
Wednesday, July 17, 2002
Article summary
Swiss Under-21 international Stéphane Grichting has left FC Sion for AJ Auxerre.
Article body
Swiss Under-21 international Stéphane Grichting has left FC Sion for French club AJ Auxerre. The central defender signed a four-year deal with the French club where he had been training since 18 June on a trial basis.
Eight years at Sion
The 23-year-old was at Sion from the age of 15 and, after making his debut in 1996, went on to play 141 top-division games for the club. However, after Sion’s relegation to second division due to financial problems, the youngster expressed his wish to move on.
'Third central defender'
"Stéphane has impressed me with his seriousness, his fighting spirit and the experience gained with FC Sion and the Swiss U21s," said Auxerre head coach Guy Roux. "He will be my third central defender alongside Philippe Mexes and Jean-Alain Boumsong."
Champions League test
In May, Grichting was part of the Swiss team that reached the last four of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship and he has more than 25 U21 caps. Auxerre finished third in the French first division last season and will enter the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League next month. The French league is due to start on 2 August.
