Lyon Signs Defender Cissokho Amidst Busy Offseason

• AP , Monday, July 20, 2009 3 PM

Lyon has signed French defender Aly Cissokho from FC Porto on a five-year contract worth $24.3 million. Earlier this month, Lyon signed striker Lisandro Lopez from Porto for about $39 million, which could rise to $46 million with performance bonuses. The seven-time French champion has also signed winger Michel Bastos from Lille.

Cissokho will likely be the first choice at left back in Coach Claude Puel's team, meaning Italy's World Cup-winning defender Fabio Grosso could leave soon. Lyon is rebuilding after selling striker Karim Benzema to Real Madrid for $57.4 million and letting midfielder Juninho join Qatar's Al Gharafa on a free transfer. Lyon still hopes to bolster its offense by signing Toulouse striker Andre-Pierre Gignac, the French league's top scorer last season with 24 goals, or to buy back striker Loic Remy from Nice - a year after selling him.

 

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