Lionel Messi is now a Paris Saint-Germain player after completing his free transfer from Barcelona.
Messi has put pen-to-paper on a two-year deal at the Parc des Princes with the option of a further 12 months included.
The 34-year-old flew into the French capital on Tuesday afternoon with his family before completing a medical which was then confirmed later that night.
Messi delighted to join PSG
Messi, who will wear the No 30, told the PSG’s official website upon joining that he hopes to ‘build something special’: ‘I am excited to begin a new chapter of my career at Paris Saint-Germain,’ he said. ‘Everything about the club matches my football ambitions. I know how talented the squad and the coaching staff are here.
‘I am determined to help build something special for the club and the fans, and I am looking forward to stepping out onto the pitch at the Parc des Princes.’
It is believed that his annual salary will be in the region of £53million, putting his earnings at just over £1m a week. He will sit in France’s highest tax bracket of 45 per cent, leaving his take-home pay at around £550,000 per week. He will be unveiled officially on Wednesday.
Nasser Al-Khelaifi, chairman and CEO of Paris Saint-Germain said: ‘I am delighted that Lionel Messi has chosen to join Paris Saint-Germain and we are proud to welcome him and his family to Paris. He has made no secret of his desire to continue competing at the very highest level and winning trophies, and naturally our ambition as a club is to do the same.
‘The addition of Leo to our world class squad continues a very strategic and successful transfer window for the club. Led by our outstanding coach and his staff, I look forward to the team making history together for our fans all around the world.’
End of an era at Barcelona
The superstar’s move completely ends his one-club at Barcelona. The iconic No 10 had been a free agent since July 1 when his contract expired. He had agreed a new five-year contract on reduced wages – but the club still had to slash their wage bill to afford him, and were unable to do so.
Seen by many as the greatest player of all-time, Messi scored a record 672 goals in 778 games for Barca, the club he joined as a 13-year-old.
He won the Ballon d’Or a record six times and lifted 35 trophies with the Catalan club.
The Argentine becomes the fourth player PSG have signed on a free transfer this summer following in the footsteps of midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, centre back Sergio Ramos and Italy’s Euro 2020-winning goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. PSG also signed right back Achraf Hakimi also joined from Inter Milan in a deal that could rise to £60m.
His arrival at the Ligue 1 giants sees him reunited with former Barca team-mate Neymar and create a devastating front three alongside the Brazilian and France sensation Kylian Mbappe.
