Werder Bremen added a new player 24 hours before the end of the transfer period as the Champions League side late Monday presented defender Mikael Silvestre, who has played the last 11 years with Arsenal and Manchester United in the English Premier League. The 40-time French international, whose contract had run out with Arsenal, arrives at the Weser without a transfer fee and signed a two-year contract until 30 June 2012.

Silvestre, whose wife and three daughters will move to Bremen, is looking forward to his new task. "I am very happy to have signed a contract here at Werder. A new big adventure in my career begins today. I will try to get accustomed to the system as quickly as possible. I would like to be one of the leaders of this team on which young players can orientate themselves to make it easier to achieve their goals," said the 33-year-old Frenchman.

Mikael Silvestre was trained in the youth ranks of Stades Rennes, where the defender also gained his first professional experience before transferring to Inter Milan in 1998. Silvestre’s career took another step one year later, moving onto Manchester United. He played nine years with the Red Devils, claiming five English Premiership crowns as well as the 2008 UEFA Champions League title. And Silvestre played from 2008 to 2010 with FC Arsenal.

Silvestre earned 40 caps for the France national team as the left-footer took part in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups and the 2004 European Championship. In 2006 he played in the World Cup final.