United States international Carlos Bocanegra has joined Ligue 1 club Rennes on a three-year contract.

The defender has been without a club since being released by English Premier League outfit Fulham at the end of last season.

Rennes coach Guy Lacombe, who led the team to a sixth-placed finish in the French top flight last season and a place in the Intertoto Cup, revealed that he was looking forward to working with the 29-year-old Bocanegra.

"You sense that he is coming to full maturity," Lacombe said on club website www.staderennais.com.

"I hope he will bring us all his experience. Tactically, he is very intelligent."

Bocanegra added: "I was in a hurry to join Rennes.

"After five years with Fulham, I wanted to play in another European league other than England. I appreciate the French championship. It's a very high level."

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