Ben Arfa: I Have Signed With Marseille

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Marseille have confirmed agreement has been reached for the signing of exciting Lyon winger Hatem Ben Arfa.

The France international grew unhappy with the Ligue 1 champions and had looked set for a move to Arsenal at one point.

However, the 21-year-old has decided to remain in Le Championnat and should prove to be an excellent acquisition for l'OM.

"We have reached a definitive agreement with Lyon for the transfer of Hatem Ben Arfa," confirmed chairman Pape Diouf.

Ben Arfa was overlooked for Raymond Domenech's Euro 2008 squad but displayed great potential on Lyon's left flank.

Manchester United were also allegedly admirers of his skills but the player will not be joining the exodus across the Channel for some time yet.

All that remains is for the youngster to pass a routine medical to seal his switch to Stade Velodrome.

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Hatem Ben Arfa's elongated transfer saga took another twist this evening as his current club, Olympique Lyon, denied that a deal has yet been completed with Marseille.

Communications director of les Gones, Olivier Blanc, told France Football, “Marseille claim that an agreement has been made between Olympique Lyon and their club. This is both true and false at the same time.”

“There will be a deal but it is not yet completed. There are still some fine details that we have to conclude with Ben Arfa with reference to his own standing at Lyon. Once this is done then a deal can be completed with Marseille,” Blanc explained further.

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L'OM had confirmed on their official website that they had agreed a deal with Lyon to secure the services of the 21-year-old winger.

However, the French champions later stated that the transfer had not been finalized and that some details had to be concluded before the player could leave Stade Gerland.

Lyon have now issued a press release in which they urge Marseille to complete negotiations before Friday night; otherwise, the deal will be cancelled.

"Olympique Lyonnais inform that the eventual transfer of Hatem Ben Arfa to Olympique de Marseille must be completed before tomorrow night, Friday 27th June, so that he is registered in the league before June 30th," Lyon said on their official website.

"If an agreement between the player and Lyon is not made and he is not registered before 30th June, Lyon will be forced to cancel the transfer.

Lyon stated, meanwhile, that they have not allowed Ben Arfa to undergo a medical for Marseille.

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Last week Marseille had claimed that the young winger had signed on at the Stade Vélodrome only for Lyon to promptly issue a statement claiming that no transfer had been finalised.

Jean-Michel Aulas, the Lyon president, then issued a Friday midnight deadline for the deal to be completed while his club were reportedly obstructive about allowing Ben Arfa to travel south for a medical.

Speaking to France Football, Marseille's president, Papa Diouf, last night maintained l'OM's original position. “The boy is ours, final point,” declared Diouf, “The case will now go to the League, which has been given all the relevant documents attesting to our claim.”

“We respected all our contracted engagements and we have in our possession the document which the two clubs agreed would be the terms of sale,” Diouf responded in light of Lyon's claims that Marseille had not respected certain conditions. Such accusations led Diouf to bemoan the Rhône club's “catalogue of omissions and lies.”

“Arguments used to reconsider their commitment undertaken with Marseille are futile,” Marseille's president warns.

“This illustrates the way in which morals are interpreted by the president of Lyon. I also note that they have the same problems with Atletico Madrid in regard to the transfer of Grégory Coupet.”

“Jean-Michel Aulas is victim of internal incompetence having accepted the transfer of Ben Arfa and is feeling swindled. Known as a poor negotiator by many people, he does not know how to leave this trap.”

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Seriously, does anyone cares unless he's going to one of Europe's top clubs?

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Young winger Hatem Ben Arfa appears to have completely undermined the hierarchy of Lyon by allowing himself to be broadcast on OMTV, Marseille’s news channel, declaring himself a member of the Mediterranean club.

“I signed with Marseilles and I am very content to have done so,” Ben Arfa declared, “My position is clear: I know that I have arrived and that I will remain here with l’OM and I will not return to Lyon. What more can be said? I am here.”

Positively gushing with praise for his new home city, the 21-year-old continued: “It is a club that any player would dream to play with because of the public, all of the atmosphere around the club.

“It really is a choice of the heart. Which player would not like to play here? It will be a really beautiful experience… I am very content to have chosen l' OM.

“I had already visited the city a little. The weather is very hot and that is a good thing for me. It is a beautiful city, the training centre is beautiful and I hope to start working out with the squad very soon. I am in a hurry to meet them.”

The saga of Ben Arfa’s transfer began last week when Marseille announced that they had signed the talented youngster, a move swiftly and officially denied by Lyon. Over the weekend personal insults were made by Marseille president Papa Diouf towards his Lyon contemporary as war broke out between the two clubs.

It now seems impossible for Ben Arfa, who Marseille claim will start training with his new club on Tuesday, to remain in Lyon next season even if Puel wishes him to.