Lyon land Abidal
Monday, June 7, 2004
Article summary
French champions Olympique Lyonnais have signed the Lille OSC defender Eric Abidal on a four-year deal.
Article body
French champions Olympique Lyonnais have boosted their squad with the signing of defender Eric Abidal on a four-year contract from Lille OSC.
Good prospect
The 24-year-old is considered one of the best young central defensive prospects in France and arrives for a reported fee of over €5m. The transfer takes Abidal to his hometown club, although it was at AS Monaco FC that he began his career. He subsequently joined Lille in August 2002 and played 35 games for the club last season.
Replaces Deflandre
Abidal is Lyon's second recent signing following the arrival of FC Sochaux-Montbéliard striker Pierre-Alain Frau and he is seen as a replacement for the Belgian Eric Deflandre, who left the Stade Gerland club for R. Standard de Liège.
