Nantes signs player from patched-up Chapecoense

Nantes - Brazilian Andrei Girotto, who spent last season on loan at tragedy-stricken Chapecoense, has joined Nantes on a four-year deal, the Ligue 1 club said on Saturday.

Chapecoense had to hire almost an entire squad of free transfers and loanees last season after 19 players died in a plane crash in Colombia in November 2016.

One of those players to join the club was 25-year-old defensive midfielder Girotto, who had spent a year in Japan with Kyoto Sanga after leaving Brazilian giants Palmeiras.

Chapecoense lost almost their entire first team squad in the crash ahead of the Copa Sudamericana final against Atletico Nacional and only survived thanks to the generosity of fellow Brazilian teams, who sent them loanees for free while the club also signed many players out of contract with their clubs.

Earlier this week, Chapecoense played a pair of friendlies in Europe, losing 5-0 to Barcelona at the Camp Nou before a second string Lyon beat them 2-1 in more modest surroundings at the French side's training ground.