Mavuba completes Villarreal switch

Jul 3, 2007 - 3:12 PM VILLARREAL, Spain (Ticker) - France midfielder Rio Mavuba has left Bordeaux and signed a five-year deal with Spanish side Villarreal.

The 23-year-old anchorman told his personal website, www.rio-mavuba.com, that he was leaving Les Girondins "to discover another championship, one of the best in the world".

Mavuba has been courted by a number of clubs since the end of the Ligue 1 season, with Juventus and Werder Bremen said to be admirers.

But on Tuesday, he opted to join fellow Frenchman Robert Pires at Villarreal.

Mavuba, who was under contract at Bordeaux until 2009, is thought to have moved for around $14 million.

"Rio Mavuba has signed for Spanish club Villarreal, following negotiations that went on until late last night," read a statement on the player's website. "He joins for five years."

The statement added financial reasons were not the reason for him leaving.

"Money was not the reason for his departure," the statment said.

Mavuba made his debut for France in August 2004, in a 1-1 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina.

He is a regular in Raymond Domenech's squad, but he struggles to secure a starting spot in the first team with Claude Makelele and captain Patrick Vieira competing for his position.

Mavuba was dropped from Les Girondins' starting XI at the end of last season, and since then has been linked with a move away from the Stade Chaban-Delmas. Villarreal, like Bordeaux, will play in next season's UEFA Cup.