Leboeuf completes Marseille move
Wednesday, 25 July 2001 17:16French defender Frank Leboeuf has completed his £1.2m transfer from Chelsea to his native Marseille after successfully passing a medical today. The French defender has agreed personal terms with the club and put pen to paper on a two-year contract. The 33-year-old World Cup winner, who was signed by Ruud Gullit for £2.5million from Strasbourg five years ago, felt his international career could be jeopardised by the fact that he was not regularly making Chelsea's first-team.
Leboeuf only made 27 starts last season and Chelsea coach Claudio Ranieri is determined to reduce the average age of his squad, evident by the recent departures of Dennis Wise and Gustavo Poyet. As a result of this uncertainty, Leboeuf was only too delighted to accept Marseille's offer of a move back home.
"I know things will not be easy because Marseille are slowly rebuilding themselves. But the challenge attracts me because of the World Cup," confirmed the player on his official website. Leboeuf is also hoping to make his debut for Marseille against Montpellier in the first game of the French season this Saturday.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
