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SC Bastia extend Abdoulaye Keita deal

EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

Abdoulaye Keita has signed a two-year deal with SC Bastia after having come to the end of his previous contract.

The 23-year-old midfielder was formed at the club, and having played 21 times in the French top flight last season during a testing campaign for the Corsicans, will now remain at the Stade Furiani until 2019 the club confirmed on their official website.

Bamako-born Keita joins experienced teammate Sebastien Squillaci, who also extended his deal with the islanders despite their uncertain fortune.

Bastia are under threat of being relegated down into National 1 -- the third tier of French football -- although the club remain confident that they can preserve their Ligue 2 status following last season's relegation.

Keita is a versatile player who initially broke through as a midfielder, but who was called regularly into action in the backline last season as Bastia finished 20th in Ligue 1.

Bastia recently parted ways with coach Rui Almeida and appointed Reginald Ray as his successor. Unless their appeal against their finally imposed demotion succeeds, they will be competing in the Championnat National.