Ligue 1 side Clermont have this morning announced the arrival of Bilal Boutobba from Niort, with the 24-year-old attacking midfielder signing a three-year deal.
The Auvergne side had moved quickly to secure Boutobba’s signing even before the league season had ended. Although his team suffered relegation from the second tier this season – finishing rock bottom after a chaotic campaign – the former French youth international has nonetheless managed to find the net 11 times and provided five assists.
The Marseille-born midfielder returns to Ligue 1 after making his debut at just 16 in the top flight with his hometown club, before middling spells at Sevilla and then Montpellier saw him start with a clean slate in Ligue 2 with Niort.
Clermont finished the league campaign on a sensational eight wins in ten – including a final-day win over PSG at the Parc des Princes. Having only spent €2.3m last summer, the Pascal Gastien-led side have also impressed in their transfer business, making the absolute most out of the league’s second-lowest budget.
GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin
