Football: Marseille confirm Diarra sale to West Ham

AFP News – Fri, Aug 10, 2012 10:58 PM SGT

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French international midfielder Alou Diarra has left Marseille to join West Ham United, the Ligue 1 club confirmed on their website on Friday.

Diarra leaves OM just 12 months after signing from Bordeaux. He made 50 appearances at the Stade Velodrome, scoring two goals and helping Marseille win the League Cup.

The 31-year-old spent time on the books at Bayern Munich and Liverpool in his younger days but made his name in Ligue 1 with Lens and Lyon before a four-year stint at Bordeaux, with whom he won the title in 2009.

He played for France at Euro 2012 but was not selected by new national coach Didier Deschamps for next week's friendly international against Uruguay.

Marseille were keen to offload Diarra, one of their biggest earners, following their failure to qualify for this season's Champions League.

He could be followed to England by Spanish right-back Cesar Azplicueta, who is believed to be a target for Chelsea.

OM coach Elie Baup, who replaced Deschamps last month, admitted on Wednesday that any departures from the club this summer "would probably concern important players, but I have been guaranteed that they will be replaced".

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