Premier League champions Manchester United have snapped up young winger Gabriel Obertan from Ligue 1 winners Girondins de Bordeaux. Obertan, who can play at both wide and central positions, has put pen to paper a four year deal which will keep him at United till June 2013.
The transfer fee was not revealed, but some sources say it was as much as $17 million. Obertan is Sir Alex Ferguson’s third summer signing after Wigan winger Antonio Valencia and former Liverpool striker Michael Owen.
Obertan was spotted by Bordeaux scouts at the Clairefontaine academy, and signed a professional contract with the club in 2006 after spending a year in the reserves. In the 2009 January transfer window, he was loaned out to Lorient by Bordeaux boss Laurent Blanc. At Lorient, he made fifteen appearances, and scored one goal.
Obertan has also been capped by France at U-19 and U-21. Sir Alex revealed at the time of the signing that Obertan was a player whom he had been tracking for the last few years.
Because of an injury, Obertan will not be involved in United’s immediate pre season preparations.
Also Get the very Latest Football Transfer News, Rumours and Gossip direct to your email.