Bordeaux clinch signing of teen Vada
Bordeaux announced the signing of 16-year-old Argentine starlet Valentin Vada on Monday, ending a lengthy adminstrative battle with Fifa over the transfer.
Vada has penned a youth contract with the Ligue 1 outfit and will continue his development at the club's academy, where he has been training for almost two years without being able to appear in any official matches.
Bordeaux successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after Fifa had twice refused to grant Vada a playing licence, citing the governing body's regulations that prohibit the transfer of a minor between two continental federations.
After several hearings, Bordeaux eventually argued in their favour that Vada held joint Italian-Argentine nationality, and as a player over 16, was free to move around Europe.
Vada, an attacking midfielder, is a product of Bordeaux's Argentine affiliate club Proyecto Crecer and rose to prominence at the prestigious Montaigu youth tournament last year when he scored a record seven goals to lead Bordeaux to the title.
Vada, who will turn 17 in March, was quoted as saying on the club's site that he was "really very happy. I have waited a long time for this moment. For me to sign today for Bordeaux, it's huge. I really want to play for the club. My dream has become reality."
The club also confirmed they had reached an agreement with Defensor Sporting Club for 19-year-old Uruguayan striker Diego Rolan.
