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Jerome Boateng joins Lyon on free transfer with contract agreed after ending 10-year Bayern Munich spell
JEROME BOATENG has joined French giants Lyon on a free transfer following his trophy-laden decade with Bayern Munich.
The German centre-half, 32, completed his medical at the Ligue 1 club on Tuesday ahead of signing a contract until 2023, according to reports.
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Bayern announced in April that Boateng would leave at the end of the season after his contract had expired.
The Bundesliga champions' sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic said it had been a "joint decision" which involved the club's management team and that Boateng had been "very understanding".
Bayern already have Boateng's successor in place after signing RB Leipzig's France ace Dayot Upamecano, 22, in the summer.
Boateng signed for Bayern in 2011 from Manchester City and is one of their most decorated players of all time with 21 trophies, a record which includes twice securing a league, cup and Champions League treble.
It is thought Boateng will be the replacement in Lyon's defence for Marcelo, 34, after the Brazilian was demoted to the reserves for attitude issues.
Boateng attracted interest from a number of Prem clubs over the summer including Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham.
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He was also linked with a potential move to Italy to join up with Jose Mourinho's Serie A outfit Roma in July.
World Cup winner Boateng is the latest big name to move to France's top-flight after PSG brought in Barcelona legend Lionel Messi, 34, and Real Madrid hero Sergio Ramos, 35, this summer.
Boateng lost his Germany spot after they failed to get out of the group stages at the 2018 World Cup, and despite calls for him to return for Euro 2020 he has not played for his national team for three years.
He signed for City from Hamburg in 2010 but joined Bayern a year later after failing to win a regular starting place in Manchester.
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