Mensah-Bonsu has had a nomadic professional career

Great Britain forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu has signed for French side Villeurbanne until the end of the season.

The much-travelled Londoner, 27, was released by the NBA's New Orleans Hornets in January.

He has been recruited by Villeurbanne because Bangaly Fofana is out with a wrist injury and Andrija Zizic is set to return to his native Croatia.

"Pops meets our needs in terms of speed, defence and intensity," said Villeurbanne's coach Nordine Ghraib.

"He is a very athletic player with good offensive skills."

As well as spells with teams in Spain and Italy, Mensah-Bonsu has also been on the books of the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors in the NBA.

He played for Russian giants CSKA Moscow last year before joining New Orleans for whom he featured in just seven games.

GB coach Chris Finch has previously expressed his desire to see Mensah-Bonsu in a "settled situation".

The 6ft 9in power foward is expected to play a key role in the Great Britain team if it wins a place at the 2012 London Olympics.

World governing body Fiba is expected to make a decision on GB's participation on 12 or 13 March.

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