Lisbon, Aug 7 (IANS): FC Porto has announced the signing of French player Aly Cissokho, who will return to the Portuguese club on loan from English side Fulham, after leaving six years ago.

The 27-year-old defender of Senegalese origin will thus return to the club where he was introduced to European football, while he assured that he was "very happy" with his return to Porto, reports Efe.

"I was here six years ago, time moved fast, but I never forgot the club that allowed for my revelation and gave me the chance to play at the highest level. I felt I had to take the opportunity as FC Porto contacted me," the player said in remarks published on the club's official website on Thursday.

Cissokho revealed that he had several proposals from different teams this season, but that he "always" made it clear that his priority was to return to Porto.

The Frenchman, who will play with the Portuguese team on loan for a year, said he had "a pleasant talk" with Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui and club officials, with whom he always had a "good relation."

Cissokho started his professional career at age 18 in the French second division with Gueugnon, and in August 2008 landed with the Portuguese side Vitoria Setubal.

Halfway through the season, he was signed by Porto, where he played the rest of the year before being traded to Lyon.

In 2012 he joined Valencia, where he spent one season before making the leap to the English Premier League, to Liverpool and then Aston Villa.

He has played only one match for France so far, against Norway in 2010.