Holding midfielder Cabaye helped Lille to a league and cup double this season
Midfielder Yohan Cabaye has announced he is joining Newcastle United, according to current club Lille.
The France international, 25, is expected to cost about £4.3m from the newly crowned French champions.
“Yohan told us on Sunday – first me, then the whole group – that he has chosen to join Newcastle,” said Lille coach Rudi Garcia.
Cabaye, a holding midfielder, formed a key part of Garcia’s Ligue 1 and French Cup double-winning squad this season.
Having spent his professional career to date with Lille, he is now on the fringes of the France team with two caps to his name.
The £4.3m fee is reported to be the cost of activating the release clause in his contract, which was due to run until 2013.
“It is a choice that I respect, although I wish he continued the adventure with us,” said Garcia, who added that Ivorian striker Gervinho would not join his Lille team-mate in moving to Tyneside, despite recent speculation.
“The only one who can leave is Yohan Cabaye,” said Garcia.
“All others are under contract and, if desired, will be in the squad next season.”
Cabaye’s two appearances for France have both come from the bench, having been handed a debut in last August’s friendly against Norway, a game for which coach Laurent Blanc had suspended his woeful World Cup stars.
Alongside those two senior caps, Cabaye has a strong record at youth international level and is a former captain of the French Under-21 side.
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