Five Notable Ligue 1 Transfers For The 2015-16 Season

Ahead of the start of the 2015/16 Ligue 1 season on Friday, AFP Sports takes a look at five of the most notable transfers made during the summer break:

- Abou Diaby (Arsenal to Marseille - free transfer)

Plagued by injury throughout his nine years in English football, the 29-year-old Diaby opted to snub the chance to remain in the Premier League with West Bromwich Albion and instead try to relaunch his career at Marseille. Diaby, who has won 16 caps for France, suffered a horrific ankle break playing against Sunderland shortly after joining Arsenal from Auxerre in January 2006 and has been bedevilled by injury ever since. Out of contract in north London, Diaby was allowed to move on and has signed a two-year deal at the Stade Velodrome, where he is one of eight new faces so far in Marcelo Bielsa's squad. (PSG Look for Rivals Amidst Financial Crisis)

- Benjamin Stambouli (Tottenham Hotspur to Paris Saint-Germain)

A growling midfielder who can also operate in defence, Stambouli returns to his native France after failing to become a first-team regular in his one season with Tottenham Hotspur. The 24-year-old was a key component in the Montpellier side that stunned PSG to win the title in 2012 and could have an important role to play for the capital side who have seen Yohan Cabaye move to Crystal Palace and could lose Thiago Motta, who is eager to leave. Stambouli turned down the chance to stay in the Premier League with Watford as he signed a five-year deal at the Parc des Princes, with PSG paying a reported fee of nine million euros (£6.3m, $9.9m). "I wasn't necessarily planning to leave the Premier League after one year but when a big club like Paris Saint-Germain calls you, it makes your choice a lot easier," he said. (Angel di Maria Set to Join Paris Saint-Germain)

- Kevin Trapp (Eintracht Frankfurt to Paris Saint-Germain)

Italian international Salvatore Sirigu has been the undisputed number one at PSG for the last four years but he appears to have been usurped by Trapp after a fee of 9.5 million euros brought the Eintracht Frankfurt captain to France. The 25-year-old German, who started his career at Kaiserslautern and is now on the fringes of Joachim Loew's national team, has signed a five-year deal at the Parc des Princes. He made his competitive debut in last Saturday's Champions Trophy match against Lyon in Montreal, Canada.

- Claudio Beauvue (Guingamp to Lyon)

Last season's runners-up are preparing for a return to the Champions League group stage for the first time in four years and moved to strengthen their attack during the summer. They have, so far at least, kept hold of Alexandre Lacazette, scorer of 27 goals in Ligue 1 last season, and outstanding young talent Nabil Fekir. And they have also brought in the 27-year-old Guadeloupe native Beauvue from Guingamp on a four-year deal for an initial fee of 4.5 million euros that could rise to 7.5 million euros with bonuses. A late developer, Beauvue came good last season, scoring 27 goals in all competitions including 17 in Ligue 1, a figure that equalled the record for a Guingamp player set by a certain Didier Drogba in 2003.

- Stephan El Shaarawy (AC Milan to Monaco - loan)

The 22-year-old Italian international forward of Egyptian origin will look to kickstart his career at Monaco after injuries marred his last two seasons at AC Milan. El Shaarawy moved to the principality on an initial one-year loan but Monaco have the option to make the deal into a permanent transfer next summer. The move is a gamble for the player and for last season's Champions League quarter-finalists. However, El Shaaraway will hope to shine in a sector where Monaco have strengthened significantly over the close season, notably with the signings of Ivan Cavaleiro from Benfica and Guido Carrillo from Estudiantes.