Fontvieille, Monaco – Defender Eric Abidal signed a one-year contract with Ligue 1 newcomers Monaco, the club confirmed on Monday.
Abidal, 33, left La Liga champions Barcelona at the conclusion of last season after six years in Catalonia and has an option for a second season with Monaco.
The former Lyon and Lille defender underwent a liver transplant in 2012 and made his return to the pitch in April. Upon his return, Abidal had said that he wanted to stay with Barcelona, but the Catalans did not offer him a new contract.
"It's very emotional, it's huge," Abidal told Monaco's official website of finding a new club. "After what I've been through, it wasn't easy to find a club with confidence in me."
Abidal has 61 caps under his belt for France, and joins a host of high-profile signings by new club owner Dmitry Rybolovlev.
Abidal becomes Monaco's sixth signing of the summer, joining Radamel Falcao, Jeremy Toulalan, Ricardo Carvalho, Moutinho and James Rodriguez.
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