Olympiacos announce Abidal arrival

Olympiacos FC have confirmed the arrival of Éric Abidal from AS Monaco FC, the French international defender reportedly signing a one-year deal with the option for a further season.

"For me, it was an aim to be able to play in the Champions League," the 34-year-old, who underwent a liver transplant in 2012, told the Olympiacos website. "It's a new country and a league I don't know, but Olympiacos are a big club who have ambition and who want to win things. My job is to bring my experience to this team and help them as best I can to win more trophies.

"I know the supporters here are crazy, but I like that; it's a good sort of crazy, because it pushes the team on and helps us achieve things," added Abidal, who has 67 caps for France but missed out on the FIFA World Cup finals, having appeared in the 2006 and 2010 tournaments. "The fans will be very important in helping us win the difficult matches."

The defender started his career with Monaco before joining LOSC Lille in 2002. Two years later he joined home-town club Olympique Lyonnais, winning the Ligue 1 title in each of his three seasons, and next moved to FC Barcelona, with whom he lifted the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup in 2009 and 2011, in addition to four league championships and two Copa del Reys. He signed for Monaco last summer and agreed a new contract last week, but has now opted for a new challenge.