Lyon, Aug 4 (IANS): Seven-time Ligue 1 champions Lyon has announced that the French football club has signed Brazilian right back Rafael from Manchester United.

"Olympique Lyonnais informed of an agreement reached with Manchester United for the transfer of Brazilian international Rafael da Silva, who will sign in the coming days a four-year contract up to June 30, 2019," said a club statement on Monday, reports Xinhua.

"The player passed his medical today in Lyon and will be presented to the media by the end of the week."

Rafael, 25, joined Manchested United in 2008 from Brazil's Fluminense together with his twin brother Fabio. He played 169 games in all competitions and won three top-flight championships and one League Cup with the multiple English Premier League champions.

Under the Red Devils' coach Louis van Gaal, however, Rafael lost his regular position in the starting line-ups last season.

"I want to thank Manchester United fans for all the love during those eight years," he tweeted after being told to leave from the team's pre-season tour of the United States.

Rafael is the third new signing of Lyon this summer after the arrival of Jeremy Morel from Marseille and Claudio Beauvue from Guingamp.

"The OL will also make every effort to secure the services of another international player in the next days," said the club on their website.