STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Swedish club Hammarby has agreed to sell American striker Charlie Davies to French side FC Sochaux.

Davies, who played for the U.S. team that lost to Brazil in the Confederations Cup final in South Africa last month, signed with Hammarby at age 20 in 2007.

"Naturally it's sad that a player like Charlie is leaving us," Hammarby chief executive Michael Andersson said on the club's Web site. "But when a player develops like Charlie has done we don't have resources to keep him. It's a problem we share with other teams in Sweden."

Davies struggled during his first season but had a breakthrough year in 2008 with 14 goals. So far this season, he has scored four goals in nine games.

Hammarby, which is struggling near the relegation zone in the 16-team Swedish first division, did not reveal the transfer sum or any details about Davies' contract with FC Sochaux.

Davies is currently playing for the U.S. in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

"I'm extremely happy right now," Davies told Swedish daily Expressen. "Naturally, it's sad to leave Hammarby. I've had a good time in Stockholm and I have many friends there. But I always wanted to take the next step. Hopefully I can keep on developing in Sochaux."

Davies said he has been promised a spot in Sochaux's starting lineup.

"The main reason why I choose Sochaux, besides that it's a good league, is that they wanted me in the starting 11," he said. "They really wanted me."