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Robert Pires joins Indian Super League

Robert Pires has followed former Arsenal teammate Freddie Ljungberg in signing up for the inaugural Indian Super League.

It was announced last week that former Sweden midfielder Ljungberg had penned an ambassadorial contract with the ISL, while Pires is expected to line up for one of the league's eight teams.

The 40-year-old Frenchman spent time with Villarreal and Aston Villa following his six-year spell at Arsenal and will now ply his trade in Asia, although details of which team he will play for are yet to be released.

Former Liverpool winger Luis Garcia is among a host of other marquee players who have already signed up for the ISL -- he will turn out for Atletico De Kolkata -- and Pires is excited at the prospect of joining them.

Following the announcement of his signing, Pires told the ISL's official Twitter feed: "I am very happy to be part of the new League when passion for football in India is on the rise. It will be great to play in front of enthusiastic Indian fans as well as share my knowledge with my teammates.''

The ISL will run between October and December.