ISTANBUL Turkish club Fenerbahce said on Tuesday it had sold Nigerian international Jay Jay Okocha to French side Paris St Germain for $17 million. A club official said the Istanbul side had failed in its efforts to persuade the talented midfielder to stay with the side he joined in 1996 from Germany's Eintracht Frankfurt. We have agreed on $17 million, Anatolian news agency quoted Ali Yildirim as saying.

Flamboyant 24-year-old Okocha was an attacking playmaker for the Nigerian side at this year's World Cup. His languid skill and deceptive pace made him a firm favorite with Fenerbahce fans. His departure leaves newly-arrived German Coach Joachim Loew with a gaping hole in his midfield less than two weeks before the start of the Turkish season. Fenerbahce, due to play in this season's UEFA Cup competition, finished second in the Turkish Championship last year behind Istanbul arch-rivals Galatasaray. (Reuter)