Al Jazira target Belhanda finally seals Kyiv switch
Al Jazira target Younes Belhanda has finally completed his on-off transfer from French club Montpellier to Dynamo Kyiv after turning his back on a move to the UAE.
Jazira had made Belhanda, 23, one of their top targets this summer with the Moroccan international in Abu Dhabi last week for talks with the Abu Dhabi giants.
Jazira were prepared to pay as much as €10million for the playmaker, who was an integral part of the Montpellier side which won the Ligue 1 title in 2012.
Dynamo, however, gazumped the Arabian Gulf League outfit by agreeing a deal with Montpellier on Sunday, athough reports in France claimed Belhanda was reluctant to move to Ukraine, having only signed an agreement in principle.
However, those doubts have now been put to bed by the player himself with Belhanda telling Dynamo’s official website: “I am very happy to be a Dynamo player, I have signed a five-year contract with a club which is at the highest level and I want to win trophies here.
“I’m not going to comment on the rumours, I can only say I intend to give my best to the club in the years to come.”
Belhanda, born in the French town of Avignon of Moroccan parents, opted to play for the north African country after making two appearances at under-20 level for France, and has since won 21 caps.
He was linked with Arsenal and Aston Villa earlier this summer but has instead opted to continue his career with Dynamo, who has also signed Dieumerci Mbokani (Anderlecht) and Jeremain Lens (PSV Eindhoven) this summer.
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