Stephane Ruffier joins AS Saint-Etienne – official Ligue 1 news
Ligue 1 side AS Saint-Etienne have signed French goalkeeper, Stephane Ruffier from Ligue 2 side AS Monaco.
The young shot-stopper is one of the most highly-rated goalkeepers in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899 and had been linked with a move away from the Stade Louis II eversince AS Monaco were relegated to the Ligue 2 after a dreadful 2010/2011 Ligue 1 campaign.
Though AS Monaco had a forgettable campaign in the Ligue 1 last season, Stephane Ruffier’s stellar performances gave Monaco a hope to survive in Ligue 1. However, it was not to be as the Monte-Carlo-based club was relegated to Ligue 2.
The 24-year-old had been linked with moves to Paris Saint-Germain, Stade Rennais, Atletico Bilbao, Aston Villa and Turkish giants Galatasaray. Italian Serie A giants AS http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roma-c31603 and Juventus were also linked with a move for Ruffier but the France international
has now chosen to stay in Ligue 1.
Ruffier has signed a four-year contract with the Rhone-Alpes club and it has been reported in L’Equipe that Saint-Etienne have paid Monaco four million Euros for Ruffier’s signature.
The official website of the club said, “French international goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier has committed to ASSE for four years. The recruitment process at the club is going well. The former Monaco man is an imposing presence in goal and will stay with us
for four years.”
The arrival of Stephane Ruffier is great news for the Stephanois club as the club had been in the hunt for a young goalkeeper who could give competition to iconic goalkeeper Jeremie Janot. Janot has been at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard for over 15 years and
has made 342 appearances for Les Verts.
However, the 33-year-old’s recent inconsistent performances had forced Les Verts’ direction into looking for a younger keeper.
The new of Ruffier’s signing is even more surprising because of the fact that it was believed that Paris Saint-Germain and Stade Rennais were in pole position to sign the Bayonne-born keeper.
The news of Ruffier joining Les Verts is a good one as the club is already under the risk of losing star players http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Dimitri-Payet-c11276 to LOSC Lille.
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