Polish international striker Ireneusz Jelen signed for French champions Lille on Tuesday filling the role they expected South Korean Park Chu-Young would assume until he suddenly opted to move from Monaco to Arsenal.
Jelen - who costs nothing as he was a free agent having been released by Auxerre - signed a one year contract and will bolster their forward line as the Champions League group stage approaches next month.
"I am very happy to join Lille," said the 30-year-old, who had been at Auxerre since 2006.
"They are a good club who achieved a wonderful domestic double last season (they also won the French Cup).
"Having played them in the past when I was at Auxerre, I know how difficult they are to work out and I know their abilities."
Jelen, capped 28 times, played in the Champions League already with Auxerre, for whom he scored 59 goals in 164 matches in all competitions.
Lille had thought Park would sign for them after he agreed to join them but disappeared following the first day of his medical, only to subsequently sign for Arsenal.
Source: AFP
