Kante a Nice boy no more

Kante: On the move

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• Cedric Kante

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Panathinaikos have completed the signing of Mali international Cedric Kante from French side Nice on a three year deal.

The defender arrives on a free transfer and will earn €2.4m over the course of his stay at the Greek giants as his contract with the French side came to an end.

Kante arrived for talks in Athens on Thursday and an agreement was reached by Friday evening despite interest from other clubs.

City rivals Olympiakos and Spanish outfit Espanyol were believed to have been interested in the 29-year-old, along with reported attention from the Premier League.

However, Kante has revealed he is delighted to be joining up with Panathinaikos, who finished 3rd in last season's Greek Championship.

"Panathinaikos is a great club playing in front of a big crowd," Kante told the club's official website.

"I am happy to start a new career in another country and will be doing all I can to be part of the Greek club's legends.

"I am very happy to be here for such a big club as Panathinaikos. I will try my best to help the team to win the title."

Kante added that although his knowledge of Greek football is limited, he is more than committed to his new club's cause of overhauling the dominance of Olympiakos.

"I don't know many things about the Greek League but I know well Panathinaikos from the Champions League," he added.

"I also know about the rivalry with Olympiakos and I am looking forward to participating in this derby."