Florian Thauvin follows Gignac to Tigres UANL - Among most valuable free agents

In 72 games for Olympique Marseille, Florian Thauvin and André-Pierre Gignac have played together—that number will increase in the future. On Friday, Liga MX side Tigres UANL have announced that Thauvin will leave OM and head to Mexico on a free transfer. L'Equipe reported that Thauvin has signed a five-year contract.

As a result, one of the most valuable free agents of this upcoming summer is off the market. With a market value of €28 million, the French winger was the seventh most valuable player with an expiring contract. The 28-year-old will become the most valuable player in the Mexican first division; the winger's current market value is €18 million higher than that of Chivas' top striker José Macías. 

Thauvin's market value also make him one of the 15 most valuable players that have moved on a free transfer. Robert Lewandowski currently leads that ranking but will be surpassed by David Alaba when he moves in the summer. "I think this should have been settled a long time ago, a player of my position should never become a free agent," Thauvin said to L'Equipe last September. Before heading to Mexico, Thauvin was linked with Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan.