Frenchman Rio Mavuba officially returns to his home country to spend the next season at OSC Lille in the Ligue 1. The player makes the move from Spanish side Villarreal.
Mavuba, a 24 year old defensive midfielder, left Girondins Bordeaux last year to try his luck in Spain, but managed to make only five appearances in La Liga as manager Manuel Pellegrini hardly included the players in his plans.
The player was then loaned out to Lille for the second half of the season, and soon became a key member of the squad.
Mavuba participated in seventeen games and helped Lille to an acceptable seventh position in the French league.
Spanish media report that the player costs Lille around seven million Euros.
