Sunderland AFC have today confirmed the departure of centre-back Younes Kaboul in an undisclosed deal that sees him join Watford.
The Frenchman has been a key figure for Sunderland in recent since his arrival from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2014, so it is sure to be a big blow for The Black Cats.
Kaboul even started in Sunderland’s most recent fixture, for the opening game of the season, as David Moyes’ men were unfortunate to come away from the match against Manchester City with nothing to show for their efforts after a 2-1 defeat.
Concerns were raised regarding Kaboul’s future at the Stadium of Light after Moyes took it upon himself to bring in three defensive reinforcements since his arrival.
The additions of Donald Love and Paddy McNair from Manchester United, as well as the big money move for Papy Djilobodji from Chelsea meant that competition for defensive places in the middle were high and it has now seen Kaboul head out of the door, with personal reasons cited by the Frenchman as his reason for departure.
Lamine Kone and Kaboul formed an excellent defensive partnership last season but it’s now certain that a formidable force in the Sunderland backline will be needed again after the 30-year-old’s departure. Speaking about the situation, Younes Kaboul said to safc.com:
“This is not an easy situation for me, but the club and the manager have shown an understanding of my personal circumstances and I am grateful for that.
“The Sunderland fans have supported me fantastically well since I came to the club, they gave me my passion back and I sincerely thank them for that. I hope they understand that I have made this incredibly difficult decision for me.”
The five-time French international joins Watford in a deal reportedly worth in between three and four million pounds, and we wish Younes the best of luck in the rest of his career and thank him for his commitment to the club for the last 12 months.
