Posted by Reuters on
Nigeria's under-21 international defender Taye Taiwo has signed a three-year contract with Olympique Marseille for an undisclosed fee.
MARSEILLE, France, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Nigeria's under-21 international defender Taye Taiwo has signed a three-year contract with Olympique Marseille for an undisclosed fee.
In a statement on the French Ligue 1 club's website Marseille manager Pape Diouf said the move was "an investment for the future".
Left back Taiwo could be used to replace former French international Bixente Lizarazu, who returned to Bayern Munich after an unsuccessful first half of the season at Marseille.
But Lizarazu's likeliest replacement should be Japan's Koji Nakata, who will train with Marseille on Thursday while his agent negotiates with the club.
Marseille coach Philippe Troussier knows the Japanese midfielder well from his days as Japan manager before the 2002 World Cup. He had used the Kashima Antlers player at left back at the time.