Abu Dhabi: Arabian Gulf League champions Al Jazira have finally confirmed the signing of French former Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra on a free transfer.
Diarra, who was released by France’s Marseille in February, first announced that he was joining Al Jazira in April but the Abu Dhabi club have only just acknowledged his claims with an official tweet on Tuesday. The April claims were personal terms agreed in principle, while the club’s announcement confirms the completion of formalities.
The 32-year-old has made 34 appearances for France since 2007, and won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana titles while at Real, where he made 87 appearances between 2009 and 2012.
He also won a League Cup and FA Cup double with Chelsea in 2007 and again lifted the FA Cup with Portsmouth just a year later. He played for a host of other clubs including Arsenal, Anzhi Makhachkala and Lokomotiv Moscow.
Al Jazira’s foreign quartet is now complete with Diarra joining Uzbek striker Sardor Rashidov and Brazilian forward Romarinho. Both were free transfers from Qatar’s El Jaish, although Romarinho has yet to be formally announced by the club. The trio join retained Moroccan midfielder Mubarak Boussoufa.
Brazilians Ailton Almeida and Leonardo have both left the club for the UAE’s Al Dhafra and Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr respectively, while South Korean midfielder Park Jung-woo is also set to exit.
Henk ten Cate’s side are currently in the Netherlands on pre-season camp, having left on Monday. They also announced the free transfer of 2015 Asian Player of the Year UAE striker Ahmad Khalil from Al Ahli before they left.
