Cagliari have snapped up Keita Balde Diao on a three-year contract after he was released by AS Monaco.
According to Sky Sport Italia, RMC Sport and others, Monaco will not receive a transfer fee for this sale, as his contract was due to expire at the end of the season and they simply released the striker.
Instead, he was allowed to leave for free, but Monaco will retain 25 per cent of any future transfer fee.
He had been linked with Sampdoria, Watford and Fenerbahce, but has agreed a three-year contract with Cagliari.
The news was confirmed by Cagliari President Tommaso Giulini, who posted an image of the club colours in hearts surrounding the Senegal flag.
Keita is still only 26 years old, but came up through the Barcelona youth academy, moved to Lazio in 2011 and was sold to Monaco for €30m in 2017 after a bitter row with Aquile President Claudio Lotito.
He returned to Italy on loan for Inter and Sampdoria, but now makes the transfer to Cagliari permanent on a three-year deal.
❤️ 🇸🇳 💙
— Tommaso Giulini (@tommasogiulini) August 31, 2021
🇸🇳⚡️ 𝓚𝓑 ⚡️🇸🇳
#forzaCasteddu pic.twitter.com/roRAWc9cdY— Cagliari Calcio (@CagliariCalcio) August 31, 2021