Ambitious Payet agrees four-year Lille deal

Ligue 1 titleholders LOSC Lille Métropole have unveiled Dimitri Payet as their third summer signing after swooping for the French international striker for a fee believed to be around €9m. "After four years at Saint-Étienne, I needed a new adventure," said the 24-year-old.

Payet, who made 129 league appearances for the Verts and scored eight of his 18 Ligue 1 goals last season in the first nine matches, spoke highly of a club he reckons is going from strength to strength after agreeing terms on a four-year deal.

"Their project attracted me," said Payet, who has been capped three times by France. "They have built a new stadium in one year and now have a competitive team. They have everything in place to succeed. Now I have the opportunity to play in the Champions League and to fly high in Ligue 1. I think this move can take me to the next level."

Coach Rudi Garcia, whose side enter the UEFA Champions League at the group stage, has already bolstered his squad with the acquisition of forward Ronny Rodelin and centre-back Marko Baša.