Maiga loaned to FC Metz

Modibo Maiga has joined French side FC Metz on an initial season-long loan deal with the option to buy next summer.

The Mali international moved to the Ligue 1 club on Thursday and could make his Les Grenats debut at home to Lyon on Sunday.

Maiga joined West Ham United from another French club, Sochaux, in summer 2012. Since then, he has scored six goals in 37 appearances and was also loaned to Championship promotion-chasers Queens Park Rangers last season.

Capped more than 30 times by his country, the 26-year-old scored 39 goals in 146 Ligue 1 appearances for Le Mans and Sochaux prior to his move to London and will hope to rediscover his best form with Metz.