LILLE, France - South African international striker Lebo Mothiba has signed up for a second stint of French leave after swapping Lille OSC for RC Strasbourg Alsace, his new club announced Thursday.
The 22-year-old had arrived in the eastern city Wednesday for a medical ahead of inking a three-year contract for a four million euro ($4.4 million) deal which includes a buyback clause valid for two years, a source said.
"Work hard at training and always give my best. Life is beautiful, I am lucky to be a footballer so I have to enjoy every moment. I am very happy to sign at Racing, I will give everything to the club, work hard every day and try to score a lot of goals to make people happy," Mothiba told the Strasbourg website.
Cash-strapped Lille, who Mothiba helped keep afloat last season in the top flight, notably with a final-day brace against Dijon, would also take half the transfer fee were Strasbourg to move him on during that time, the source told AFP. The striker scored five goals in 14 appearances for Lille last season.
Mothiba, a member of the South African Olympic squad in 2016, joined Lille in 2014 from the Diambars academy in Johannesburg and had a successful stint with second tier Valenciennes early last year to earn a place at Lille. His early season form earned him a call-up to Bafana Bafana squad on Wednesday, but Lille chairman Gerard Lopez said the club was obliged to trim its squad.
Lille are currently third on the Ligue 1 table after three wins and a draw, while Mothiba's new club are 11th after a draw, a loss and a win in their first three games of the new season.
🔴 LOSC wishes @LeboMothiba11 all the best on his new adventure at @RCSA. 👏👋🏻 pic.twitter.com/3zy6hKpDDt
— LOSC Lille EN (@LOSC_EN) August 30, 2018
🚨 L’attaquant international sud-africain 🇿🇦 @LeboMothiba11(22 ans, 1,82 m, 78 kg) s’est engagé pour 5 ans en faveur du Racing ! #Bienvenue #Mothiba #Mercato
➡️ https://t.co/1lx8UbQCeP pic.twitter.com/z5ztnSUMnt
— RC Strasbourg Alsace (@RCSA) August 30, 2018
🙏🔴⚪️❤️ T H A N K Y O U ! pic.twitter.com/WuYRRW7UtJ
— Lebo Mothiba (@LeboMothiba11) August 30, 2018