Saint-Étienne confirm Thierno Ballo on four-year deal for two point five million euros | OneFootball

Saint-Étienne have completed the signing of Austria international Thierno Ballo on a four-year contract, the club confirmed on Saturday. The winger adds depth in wide areas after last season's shortages through injuries and form.

The 24-year-old joins for two point five million euros, taking spend on early-window recruits past six million euros as training resumed under Ian Cathro. Unlike the rest of Ligue 2, which remains constrained financially, ASSE have moved quickly.

Talks had run for several weeks before Saturday's agreement. After Sohaib Naïr, Jakob Breum and Mamour Ndiaye, Ballo becomes the fourth paid arrival this month.

Primarily a winger who can operate up front, Ballo produced one goal and seven assists for Millwall last season as they finished third, then went out in the play-off semi-finals. He offers an alternative to Zuriko Davitashvili on the left and cover across the attack.

Born in Abidjan, he grew up in Austria, moved to Germany at 11 with Leverkusen and Cologne, then joined Chelsea at 16.

Chelsea, where he was alongside Pierre Ekwah, provided his springboard to Rapid Vienna and Wolfsberger AC, where he played with Augustine Boakye and featured in Europe, totalling 33 goals and 19 assists in 123 matches. He has extensive Austria youth caps and one senior appearance a year ago against San Marino.

Source: Le Progres