Messi: PSG confirm signing of former Barcelona star
Lionel Messi has signed for Paris Saint-Germain on an initial two-year deal, with the option to extend his Parc des Princes stay for a third season.
Former Barcelona star Leo Messi has joined Paris Saint-Germain, it has been confirmed.
Messi signs two-year PSG deal, to wear No. 30
Messi, 34, has signed for PSG on an initial two-year contract, with the option of extending that deal for an additional season, the Ligue 1 club said in a statement on Tuesday evening. The forward will wear the No. 30 shirt in the French capital.
"Everything about the club matches my ambitions"
"I am excited to begin a new chapter of my career at Paris Saint-Germain," Messi told the club's website. "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."
Meanwhile, PSG chairman Nasser AL Khelaifi 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."
Earlier on Tuesday, PSG fans had flocked to the airport to welcome the Argentina captain to Paris after the Parc des Princes board tied up negotiations with the six-times Ballon d'Or winner, who arrives as a free agent after his contract at the Camp Nou expired and Barça failed to come up with a financial solution to retain him.
Messi to be unveiled on Wednesday
The final small print on Messi's deal was signed off on Tuesday morning, with issues such as his salary, which remains unknown, his image rights and various commissions on the deal agreed to the satisfaction of all parties.
Messi is set to be unveiled as a PSG player on Wednesday. It has been rumoured that he will be presented in the same manner as Neymar and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, in front of the Eiffel Tower, but for now the club has only confirmed that a press conference will be taking place at 11am CEST (5am EDT) at the Parc des Princes.