Lyon sign Rafael from Man Utd

Seven-time former Ligue 1 champions Lyon announced late Monday that the club has signed Brazilian right back Rafael from Manchester United.

"Olympique Lyonnais informed of an agreement reached with Manchester United for the transfer of Brazilian international Rafael da Silva, who will sign in the coming days a four year contract up to 30 June, 2019," read a club statement.

"The player passed his medical today in Lyon and will be presented to the media by the end of the week," added the press release.

Rafael, 25, joined Man. Utd in 2008 from Brazil's Fluminense together with his twin brother Fabio, played 169 games in all competitions and won three top-flight championships and one League Cup with the multiple English Premier League champions.

Under the Red Devils' new coach Louis van Gaal, however, Rafael lost his regular position in the starting lineups last season.

"I want to thank Manchester United fans for all the love during those 8 years," he wrote on Twitter after being told to leave from the team's pre-season tour of the United States.

Rafael is the third new signing of Lyon this summer after the arrival of Jeremy Morel from Marseille and Claudio Beauvue from Guingamp.

"The OL will also make every effort to secure the services of another international player in the next days," said the club on their official website. Endi