Remember Pascal Chimbonda? He's Made Unexpected Move To English Club

Three years after he left the Lake District for the south of France, Chimbonda, who was voted as best right back in the Premiership in 2006, has joined Northern League Division One side Washington FC - a huge step down from Keith Curle and his Galácticos.

I vividly remember when the great Pascal Chimbonda signed for my home town club, Carlisle United, in one of the transfers of the decade. The former Sunderland, Tottenham and Blackburn right-back went onto make 26 wonderful appearances at Brunton Park, establishing himself as a Carlisle legend in the process.

The 38-year-old will join Washington FC, who are in the ninth division of English football, for the forthcoming season and will try and gain promotion from Northern League Division One - perhaps one of his biggest tests to date.

Who'd have thought Chimbonda, a man who went to the 2006 World Cup with France, would be lacing up his boots to join his eighth English club in a legendary 19 year career in football. Don't you just love the beautiful game.

But c'mon lads, at least get his surname right:

One of Pascal's former clubs, Le Harve, have one of the greatest 'what could have been' teams in recent years. The collective success of Le Havre AC across Ligue 1 in the past two decades is impressive, but the 144-year old club find themselves in the second division of French football after a poor run in recent years.

The likes of Paul Pogba, Riyad Mahrez and Pascal Chimbonda found new clubs, and years later, they are making huge impressions in their respective leagues.

Pogba spent two years at Le Harve as a younger, and after an infamous transfer to Manchester United that was branded 'suspicious' by many, the Frenchman has since gone onto become the world's most expensive player.

Mahrez is another big name to flourish since his departure. He spent four years in Normandy before joining Leicester City. Funnily enough, Mahrez had never heard of Leicester, whom he initially presumed to be a rugby club.

Good luck in your future endeavors, Pascal.

PS: Please come back to Carlisle United when you're finished at Washington. We're struggling big time and need your defensive prowess.

Topics: Transfers

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

@jackkenmare_