Neymar is officially a PSG player as he signs a five-year deal
PSG released a statement in which they confirmed that Neymar signed a five-year deal with the club, leaving Barcelona and LaLiga after four years.
Paris Saint Germain confirm that Neymar will sign a five-year deal at the club, until 2022, as the soap opera of the summer draws to a close. The Brazilian will have an annual salary of €30 million after tax and he will wear the number 10 in the French capital.
According to the French club, Neymar will be presented on Saturday at the Parc de Principes at 15:45 CEST before PSG's game against newly-promoted Amiens as the attempt to wrestle back control of Ligue 1 from AS Monaco begins in earnest. On Friday, the player will speak for the first time as a PSG player at a press conference at 13:30. There were reports that he wanted to play on Saturday but it seems he will have to wait.
On Thursday, the wheels were put in motion to execute the transfer as Neymar's representatives arrived to pay his release clause at LaLiga's headquarters in Madrid. The league refused to accept the €222 million and they were forced to travel to Barcelona where the club accepted the world record fee. Oscar Grau, executive director of the club, was there to accept the money and the player was released from his contract that he had signed in October 2016 and still had four years to run.
Neymar, already free to sign, traveled to Paris where he signed the contract with PSG. Thus concluded the biggest transfer in the history of football, blowing Paul Pogba's €100 million price tag, paid last summer, out of the water.
Statement on Neymar released by Barcelona
On Thursday afternoon Neymar Jr's legal representatives visited in person the Club's offices and made the payment of 222 million euros in the player's name with regards to the unilateral termination of the contract that united both parties. As such, the Club will pass on to UEFA the details of the above operation so that they can determine the disciplinary responsibilities that may arise from this case.
Neymar: "PSG's ambition won me over"
"I am extremely happy to join Paris Saint-Germain, said Neymar Jr after signing his contract. "Since I arrived in Europe, the club has always been one of the most competitive and most ambitious. And the biggest challenge, what most motivated me to join my new teammates is to help the club to conquer the titles that their fans want. Paris Saint-Germain’s ambition attracted me to the club, along with the passion and the energy this brings. I played 4 seasons in Europe and I feel ready to take the challenge. From today, I will do everything I can to help my new teamates, to open up new horizons for my club and to bring happiness to its millions of supporters around the world."
Al Khelaifi: "His leadership and strength make Neymar a winner"
"Neymar Jr is today one of the very best players in world football. His winning mentality, strength of character and sense of leadership have made him into a great player. He will bring a very positive energy to this club. In six years, we have built a very ambitious project that has already taken us to the highest level of national and European football. Today, with the arrival of Neymar Jr, I am convinced that we will come even closer, with the support of our faithful fans, to realizing our greatest dreams."
