Eric Abidal

Former France and Barcelona defender Eric Abidal announced his retirement from football on Friday, a day before his last match.

Abidal said he will finish after playing for Olympiakos against Kalloni on Saturday, with 18 months left on his contract.

He cited personal reasons for stopping, without elaborating.

Greek champion Olympiakos Piraeus continued its summer rebuilding by signing Swiss midfielder Pajtim Kasami on a three-year deal from English side Fulham, it announced on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old international, who did not make Switzerland's World Cup squad, signed for an undisclosed fee from the Londoners, who were relegated from the Premier League last season.

Eric Abidal joined on Tuesday his new teammates at Zeefeld, Austria for their preseason training after Olympiakos confirmed on Saturday it had signed the veteran French defender on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.