It's Official: Davies to Sign With Sochaux

New Hampshire Native to Take on Ligue 1 Challenge

By Mark Goodman

July 11, 2009

What has been rumored in the press for days became official yesterday, as French Ligue 1 side Sochaux will sign U.S. international forward Charlie Davies.

Charlie Davies speaks to reporters Friday at Gillette Stadium following the U.S. national team's practice. The team plays Haiti tonight in its final Gold Cup group stage game. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

The club released an official statement on its web site Friday, saying the former Boston College star will sign a contract next week. Sochaux and Davies’s previous club, Hammarby IF, reached a transfer agreement Friday.

Davies has spent the last three seasons with Hammarby, scoring 21 goals in 56 matches for the Swedish side. The 23-year old Manchester, N.H. native made a name for himself during last month’s Confederations Cup in South Africa, cementing a starting spot alongside Jozy Altidore in the U.S. front line.

Davies scored a goal in the Americans’ 3-0 win over Egypt in the group stage and assisted Landon Donovan’s goal in the 3-2 loss to Brazil in the final. That goal gave the U.S. a 2-0 first half lead at the time.

Sochaux finished 14th out of 20 teams in Ligue 1 last season with 42 points, just five points above the relegation zone. It was the second straight year Sochaux finished in that position in the league after claiming seventh in the 2006-07 season.

U.S. international defender Carlos Bocanegra also plays in Ligue 1 with Rennes.

Davies is currently with the U.S. national team at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, where it is preparing to play Haiti tonight at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass.

Mark Goodman can be reached at newsdesk@soccernewengland.com.