Former Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko has joined Ligue 1 side Lorient as a free agent on a two-year contract.

Bakayoko, 29, left Stamford Bridge at the end of last season after failing to make the grade following his $40m signing from Ligue 1 winners Monaco in 2017.

Tiemoue Bakayoko signs for French club

Bakayoko spent the last two years at San Siro on loan from Chelsea but despite having the option, the Rossoneri decided against signing the Frenchman on a permanent deal.

The news was confirmed on Lorient’s official social media profiles.

Tiémoué Bakayoko s'engage avec les Merlus ! 🆕 🐟

𝐃𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐢𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐞 ! 🧡🖤

— FC LORIENT 🐟 (@FCLorient) August 31, 2023

Speaking of his move to Brittany, “It is a great satisfaction for me to return to Ligue 1 with a club like FC Lorient, which is ambitious in its game and in its future prospects.

I can’t wait to meet my new teammates and the public of the Moustoir stadium who, from what I saw, strongly support their team!”