Haber to sign one-year deal with French club

Justin Haber's gamble to bide his time in the hope of securing a contract overseas looks to have paid off.

It emerged yesterday that the 24-year-old Haber has been offered a one-year professional contract to play for French club US Quevilly after he left a good impression during a trial over the last 10 days.

US Quevilly play in the CFA 1, the fourth tier of the French League. During his trial, Haber, who rejected overtures from Birkirkara to sign a new contract with them, figured in three friendly matches... vs Cannes reserves 2-0, vs Sain Lo 1-1 and vs Sannois St Gratien 1-1.

"US Quevilly have already drafted the contract which I will hopefully sign in the coming days," Haber told The Times from France yesterday.

"A request for the release of my International Transfer Certificate has already been made and once that document has been received, we can put the finishing touches on the deal."

Haber is satisfied that things have worked out well for him during his trial. In US Quevilly's 1-1 draw with Sannois St Gratien, on Saturday, his encouraging performance drew positive comments from the French media that were present for the match.

"I did well in the last friendly game against Nacional league side Sannois St Gratien," Haber said.

"Some journalists voted me as the best player of the match and I was later told that influential sports newspaper L'Equipe intends to run a feature on my move to US Quevilly as I will be the first Maltese to play in France."

Although US Quevilly play away from the glamour of Ligue I and II, the CFA1 is considered a showcase for players with ambitions of attracting the interest of leading clubs.

Last season, Quevilly placed sixth from 20 teams in the CFA1. They made it to the quarter-finals of the French Cup where they lost to Sedan.

Quevilly's first league game this season is at home to FUSC Boisguillaume on Saturday.

"I have only been here a few days but I already feel part of the group," Haber added.

"The players are doing their best to make me feel at ease despite the fact that I don't speak French. There are many good players in the CFA1 and the standard is very good.

"Many players have moved on to bigger clubs from CFA1 and for me that's a huge motivation. I believe that my transfer to US Quevilly will create other opportunities."

Haber's imminent switch to France means that two of the best Maltese goalkeepers are likely to play abroad this season.

Last week, Saviour Darmanin, formerly of Pietà Hotspurs and Bir-kirkara, accepted an offer to join English non-league club Vauxhall Motors.