Sunderland midfielder Steed Malbranque has left the Black Cats to join French Ligue 1 outfit AS Saint-Etienne. A statement on the French club’s website said that Malbranque had put pen to paper a two year contract with ASSE. Belgian born Malbranque started his career with Saint-Etienne’s fierce domestic rivals Olympique Lyonnais and was with them till 2001 before moving across the Channel to Fulham.
He stayed at Fulham for five years before moving on transfer deadline day in the summer of 2006 to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Two seasons and sixty odd league appearances later, Malbranque moved to the North East by joining Sunderland. The Black Cats were looking to offload him to cut their wage bill as he was deemed surplus to requirements at the Stadium of Light by manager Steve Bruce.
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