Ex-French international Ben Yedder joins Sepahan

Former France international Wissam Ben Yedder, who received a suspended two-year jail sentence for sexually assaulting a woman last year, has joined five-time Iranian champions Sepahan, the club announced.

The amount and duration of the contract for the 34-year-old striker — who scored three times in 19 international appearances — were not specified.

“Wissam Ben Yedder, a famous striker of the French national team and former player of Sevilla, Monaco and Toulouse clubs, officially signed his contract with Sepahan after reaching an agreement with the club,” the statement published on the club’s official website read.

Ben Yedder is the former captain of French Ligue 1 side Monaco and second on the club’s list of all-time leading goalscorers. He left Monaco at the end of last season and has been without a club since.

Aside from his conviction for sexual assault — which he blamed on being drunk and entered a rehab programme following the case — he has also been accused by another woman of raping her in the summer of 2023.

He denies the accusation and the case is still being investigated.

Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan Cultural and Sports Club, located in the central province of Isfahan, is one of the most prominent sports clubs in Iran and has teams in various fields for men and women.

Ben Yedder began his professional career with Toulouse before moving to Spanish side Sevilla.

A Spanish court in 2023 found him guilty of tax fraud while he was living in the country, and gave him a six-month suspended sentence.

He joined Monaco in 2019 where he scored 118 goals in 201 matches, but his contract was not extended when it expired in 2024.