French international joins on loan with view to permanent deal
ALBION have signed versatile Marseille midfielder Morgan Amalfitano on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent deal.
The 28-year-old France international completed his move this morning after flying in from France yesterday afternoon and passing a medical. He will wear the No.18 shirt.
Amalfitano has been a regular for the current Ligue One leaders for the past two seasons and boasts both Champions League and Europa League experience.
He is renowned for his creativity, having contributed more than 30 assists in the past four campaigns.
Head coach Steve Clarke said: “I’m delighted to welcome Morgan to the club.
“He is predominantly a right-sided midfielder who can also operate in a number of other midfield and attacking positions.
“Morgan is a technical player with good quality on the ball. He also has fantastic work-rate and we believe his game is well suited to the Barclays Premier League.
“Morgan’s arrival will increase competition in midfield and add more quality and depth to the squad.”
Amalfitano was capped by France in a 2-1 friendly win over Germany in February 2012 – providing the cross for Florent Malouda’s decisive goal.
The Nice-born player made his professional debut for Sedan in August 2006, where he played for three seasons before joining Lorient.
In the 2009/10 and 2010/11 campaigns he started all-but-one of the Ligue One outfit’s 76 league games, scoring 11 goals.
That form persuaded Marseille to snap up the 5ft9in player and, in the past two seasons, he has helped the French giants win the 2012 Coupe de la Ligue and finish Ligue One runners-up last term.
In total, Amalfitano has made 298 career league appearances, including 49 as a substitute, scoring 16 goals.