Outspoken Toulon boss Mourad Boudjellal has confirmed to a small selection of fans that the side has signed Highlanders centre Malakai Fekitoa.
At the presentation of the team on Tuesday (NZT), Boudjellal announced the "imminent arrival of the All Black world champion centre," ending weeks of speculation over the 25-year-old's future.
Boudjellal has labelled the signing "the biggest coup of the summer in the transfer market".
Fekitoa was initially omitted from the All Blacks squad to play the Lions however, earned a call-up for the third Test in Auckland.
The blockbusting runner has slid out of All Blacks favour, and with the emergence of young talents Ngani Laumape and Anton Lienert-Brown, Fekitoa was facing an uphill battle to get back into the squad
According to French publication L'equipe, Fekitoa signed after July 1 meaning he will arrive with the "additional player" status.
The 24-Test All Black will join former All Blacks Ma'a Nonu and Luke McAlister in Toulon's midfielder and joins a raft of current internationals departing New Zealand's shores including James Lowe, Aaron Cruden, Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Steven Luatua.
Newshub.
