Audio By Carbonatix
Bayern Munich legend Franck Ribery has signed for Fiorentina, the Serie A club announced on Wednesday.
The 36-year-old, who won a record nine Bundesliga titles during his stay in Germany, has penned a two-year deal with the Florence-based side to take him through until 2021.
The former France international brought the curtain down on a 12-year stay with the Bavarian giants last season after helping them to another domestic triumph.
Having started his career with his hometown club Boulogne in 2000, he spent spells with Ales, Brest, Metz, and Galatasaray before moving to Marseille in 2005, where he made his name, helping the club to back-to-back Coupe de France finals.
He subsequently moved to Bayern two seasons later, in 2007, for a then club-record fee of €25 million (£22.9m/$27.7m), where he helped the club dominate German football for the subsequent decade, winning his first title in his maiden season.
Along with his domestic league triumphs, was also a six-time DFB-Pokal Cup winner and, in 2013, was a member of the Bayern team that memorably achieved the treble after they lifted the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.
In 2008, he was named German Footballer of the Year, making him one of only five foreign players to date to be awarded the honour, while he came third in the Ballon d'Or race in 2013.
At international level, Ribery was called up to the national team for the first time in 2006, playing a part in their World Cup near-miss against Italy in Germany, and he would go on to become a consistent presence until 2014, when he retired from representative football following the World Cup in Brazil, which he missed through injury.
All in all, he won 81 caps for his country and scored 16 goals.
Ribery becomes Fiorentina's seventh arrival of the transfer window, joining players such as former Bologna midfielder Erick Pulgar and ex-Sassuolo striker Kevin-Prince Boateng in signing for Vincenzo Montella's outfit.
The former Viola boss took the reins in Florence for a second time in April, following the resignation of Stefano Pioli, with the club just avoiding a close shave with relegation from Serie A last season.
--
Latest Stories
-
Africa must define its own green transition path – Prof Fatima Denton
17 minutes -
WASSCE 2026: English Language performance falls to 62.4% – WAEC
40 minutes -
WASSCE 2026: Social Studies records sharp rebound as Maths, Science also improve
53 minutes -
2026 WASSCE entry rises by 11% as 512,862 candidates sit exams
60 minutes -
WASSCE 2026: English Language performance falls to 62.4% – WAEC
1 hour -
WAEC cancels 2026 WASSCE results of 8,295 candidates over examination irregularities
2 hours -
WAEC releases provisional 2026 WASSCE results for 512,862 candidates
2 hours -
CJ’s remarks on SOEs were made in good faith, not to undermine judicial independence – Judicial Service
5 hours -
Bright Future Alliance pays courtesy call on Akufo-Addo, invites him to African Leaders of Influence Lectureship Series
5 hours -
This is an attempt to break the Minority caucus – Patricia Appiagyei on alleged GH¢70k payment
6 hours -
‘OSP hasn’t contacted me’ – Patricia Appiagyei assures cooperation if invited
6 hours -
I find it strange that this memo was purportedly written by me – Patricia Appiagyei
6 hours -
Ayariga calls for stronger church partnership to tackle sanitation, environmental challenges
6 hours -
I don’t think we have an industry – Patchbay Band manager
7 hours -
Patchbay Band questions recognition of live bands in Ghana’s music industry
7 hours