Newly promoted Ligue One side Strasbourg have confirmed the signing of Cardiff City striker Idriss Saadi on a four-year deal.
The 25 year-old spent last season out on loan in Belgium and has since been given a chance to shine for Cardiff in pre-season, but the Bluebirds have now decided to cash in.
The move sees Saadi pen a four-year deal and the Bluebirds will receive an undisclosed fee.
French news source Foot Mercato claimed earlier today that Strasbourg were chasing Saadi and that they were making good progress in negotiations for the player.
The club then confirmed via twitter that they had signed Saadi, along with a picture of the striker wearing a Strasbourg scarf.
[MERCATO] 🔵⚪️ Idriss Saadi s’engage pour 4 ans au RCSA
👉 https://t.co/RcWWm5fQLH#UnSeulAmour 💙 #TousRacing pic.twitter.com/Rt1MP9TULE— RC Strasbourg Alsace (@RCSA) July 21, 2017
The former French youth international began his professional career at Saint-Etienne where he scored 20 goals for the club’s reserve side, along with loan spells at Reims and Gazélec Ajaccio.
His performances would earn him a permanent move to Ligue Two club Clermont Foot, where he grabbed an impressive 18 goals in 39 appearances in his two seasons at the Stade Gabriel Montpied.
His performances for Clermont then earned him a move to Cardiff back in 2015/2016 although an injury saw his first team appearances at the club limited, making just two substitute appearances for the Bluebirds.
In the following season, he was shipped out on loan to Cardiff City’s sister club KV Kortrijk where he was admired by many of the De Kerels as he scored 16 times in 35 appearances for Kortrijk as he helped them to a 10th placed finish in the Belgian First Division.
It was reported earlier last month that Saadi was unlikely to stay at the club after reports from Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad said that he would be moved on to another club.
WalesOnline however said that he would be given the opportunity to impress in pre-season as he fights for his future at Cardiff City.
Saadi was absent in the club’s second game of their pre-season tour of Cornwall as they recorded a 3-1 victory over Bodmin Town, the French-born striker however did play two days before hand as he scored a brace against Tavistock.
A selection of fans were looking forward to seeing how a partnership between Saadi and Kenneth Zohore could have developed after the two shone in the Bodmin Town friendly.
However, the prospect of that front two has been abandoned with Saadi leaving the club to join Strasbourg on a permanent deal.
(Featured Image: Jon Candy)