Leicester City Sign Winger Rachid Ghezzal from AS Monaco
- Leicester City agree the transfer of Algerian international Rachid Ghezzal from AS Monaco
- The 26-year-old winger signs a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee
- Ghezzal has been capped 13 times for Algeria and played at the 2017 African Cup of Nations
- The winger becomes City’s fifth signing of the summer after the arrivals of Ricardo Pereira, Jonny Evans, James Maddison and Danny Ward
The 26-year-old has signed a four-year contract at King Power Stadium and becomes the Foxes fifth summer signing after the arrivals of Jonny Evans, James Maddison, Ricardo Pereira and Danny Ward.
The transfer sees the skilful winger reunite with City manager Claude Puel, who was in charge of Lyon as the winger progressed through the Club’s academy.
An Algerian international, Ghezzal made his senior debut for his national side in March 2015 and played in each of the Desert Foxes’ group stage games at the 2017 African Cup of Nations.
Speaking to LCFC TV, Ghezzal said: “I’m very excited and very happy to be here. I know the coach from Lyon and this is where I want to be. It’s a good Club and an ambitious one too. Leicester City has many great players and I hope we will have a great season.”
Leicester City manager Claude Puel said: “I’m very pleased to welcome Rachid to Leicester City Football Club. He’s an exciting addition to our group who will bring creativity and competition ahead of an important season for us. I know his qualities from my time at Lyon, where he was in the academy, and I look forward to seeing him test himself in the Premier League.”
Born in Décines-Charpieu, Metropolitan Lyon, Ghezzal joined Lyon’s academy as a 12-year-old and signed his first professional contract with the club in 2010. The winger spent two years with Lyon B before being promoted to the first team and made his senior debut in October 2012 against Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona in the UEFA Europa League.
The Algerian enjoyed his most prolific campaign for Lyon in 2015/16 when he scored eight goals in 29 Ligue 1 appearances. In his final season with the club, Ghezzal played 25 times as his side reached the UEFA Europa League semi-final and finished fourth in the league. The winger finished his time at Lyon with a record of 14 goals and 20 assists in his 110 appearances.
In August 2017, Ghezzal signed for French champions AS Monaco and featured 33 times for the club including four appearances in the UEFA Champions League.
The 26-year-old represented France at under-20 level before playing for Algeria as a senior international. He made his Desert Foxes debut against Qatar in March 2015 and has since been capped 13 times. The winger was included in Georges Leekens’ squad for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and featured in all three of his country’s group stage games.
Ghezzal will link up with his new Leicester City team-mates ahead of the 2018/19 Premier League curtain raiser against Manchester United on Friday 10 August.