Lionel Messi transfer LIVE: PSG announce signing after Argentine legend leaves Barcelona
Follow all the latest updates as Messi is confirmed as a PSG player
Lionel Messi is in Paris to be unveiled as Paris Saint-Germain's latest superstar signing. The Argentine begrudgingly departed Barcelona in a flood of tears given the horrendous state of the La Liga club's financial situation. Messi has opted to join friends Neymar and Angel Di Maria at the Parc des Princes, with compatriot Mauricio Pochettino welcoming him to the Ligue 1 giants.
PSG will possess a formidable attack with the 34-year-old joining Neymar and Kylian Mbappe to form one of the most mouth-watering tridents in European football history. Without a Champions League title in six years amid Barcelona's demise, Messi will hope to help deliver the title that PSG covet most, following their semi-final exit at the hands of Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
While PSG had to pay €222m to sign Neymar from Barcelona in 2017, there will be no transfer fee for Messi, whose contract expired this summer at the Nou Camp. Instead Messi joins perhaps the greatest ever cast of free agents to arrive at one club, including Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, former Real Madrid stalwart Sergio Ramos and former Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum.
Follow all the latest updates below as Messi is confirmed as a PSG player.
Juventus eye player-plus-cash deal for Italy star Manuel Locatelli
Juventus may include a player to convince Sassuolo to sell them Euro 2020 star Manuel Locatelli.
That’s according to Calciomercato, who report that Filippo Ranocchia could be inserted into the deal.
The Italy midfielder, 23, is priced at €35m, with Juve hoping to secure a two-year loan for €5m, with an option to buy at €20m plus bonuses.
Messi to PSG is close
It looks like the final negotiations have gone smoothly and Messi will be flying to Paris shortly for a medical.
Frankfurt sign winger Hauge on loan
Eintracht Frankfurt have signed Norway winger Jens Petter Hauge on loan from AC Milan, the German club announced on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old joins the Bundesliga side on a temporary deal but the move could become permanent at the end of the 2021-22 season.
Milan said in a statement the loan transfer included “an obligation for a definitive purchase upon the occurrence of certain conditions”.
Hauge joined the Italian club from Bodo/Glimt in October 2020 but struggled for game time in his debut season, making 18 Serie A appearances and scoring two goals.
Frankfurt, who finished fifth in the Bundesliga last season, kick off the new league campaign away to Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
John Stones signs on dotted line
John Stones has signed a new five-year contract with Manchester City, completing a remarkable turnaround for his Etihad career.
The 27-year-old’s previous City contract was set to expire at the end of the season.
Yet after playing a key part in City’s Premier League title-winning 2020-21 campaign, Stones has committed himself to the club until 2026.
“I couldn’t be happier,” he said. “I love being part of this squad. There are so many quality players here and I know we can continue winning trophies, which is my main focus.
“Working with the manager is a dream – he has taught me so much about the game and I feel like I learn something new every single day.
John Stones signs new five-year contract to complete Manchester City turnaround
Stones’ previous deal was set to expire at end of the season
Done deal! Brighton sign Japan’s Kaoru Mitoma
Brighton have confirmed the signing of Japan international Kaoru Mitoma on a four-year-contract, on undisclosed terms from J1 League team Kawasaki Frontale.
He will spend the 2021/22 season on loan with Belgian first division side Royal Union Saint-Gilloise, and will link up with the Brussels based side after a break following the Olympics in Tokyo.
The 24-year-old has represented his country up to under-23 level, and was part of the squad which missed out on bronze in their final match against Mexico, after a good tournament on home soil.
Technical director Dan Ashworth said: “We’re delighted be able to sign Kaoru, who arrives off the back of a couple of really strong seasons in Japan.
“As part of his development we have decided to loan him to Union Saint-Gilloise, to help him become accustomed to European football, and test himself in a different environment.
“He’s one we have tracked for a while, so we are looking forward to seeing how he progresses in the next year and we will be watching him closely during his time in Belgium.”
Southampton loan Chelsea youngster Broja
Southampton have completed a season-long loan deal for Chelsea striker Armando Broja.
Broja, 19, follows in the footsteps of his former Chelsea teammate Tino Livramento in moving to St Mary’s this summer, representing another of the brightest emerging talents from the European champions’ academy.
Already capped six times at senior level by Albania, Broja spent last season on loan at Vitesse, netting 11 goals in 34 appearances, making him one of the top-scoring teenagers across Europe’s leading divisions, as he helped the Dutch side to a fourth-place finish in the Eredivisie as well as the final of the KNVB Cup.
That followed a 2019/20 campaign in which the Slough-born youngster scored 20 times at academy level, while also making his first-team debut in a 4-0 home win over Everton in March 2020.
Broja signed a new five-year contract at Chelsea this summer and has also impressed during pre-season while featuring for Thomas Tuchel’s first-team, scoring on a number of occasions.
Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “Armando is a very talented player who we were impressed by last season. He is young, but he comes now with a full season of experience in senior football with a good team, and he brings a lot of qualities that can help us.
“He is a strong, quick player with a good instinct and this makes him a good fit for the way we like to play. I know how highly regarded he is by Chelsea, and I think this will be a good place for him to continue his own development as well.”
Armando Broja said: “They’ve got a good history and they play in the best league in the world, so it’s amazing for a young player to experience it, be in and around a Premier League team, and learn and develop from the older players, the staff and everyone here. It’s a very good opportunity.”
Stones ready to sign new deal
John Stones is on the verge of signing a new five-year deal at Manchester City worth £250,000 per week, according to Sky Sports.
Stones enjoyed a great season in 2020-21 forming a strong partnership with Ruben Dias which helped steer City to the title and the Champions League final.
And he continued that form into the Euros with a series of calm performances as England reached the final and lost to Italy on penalties.
Messi deal close...
PSG are pushing for the deal with Lionel Messi to be agreed as soon as possible, reports Fabrizio Romano. The transfer journalist says negotiations are ongoing with clauses still to be ironed out. But it sounds like things are moving in the right direction.
Leicester eye Jesse Lingard if James Maddison leaves for Arsenal
Leicester have identified Jesse Lingard as a potential replacement for James Maddison, should Arsenal move for the midfielder.
Football London report that the Foxes would target the Manchester United midfielder, following his exceptional loan spell at West Ham last season,
The Foxes want £60 million for Maddison, who fell down the pecking order under Brendan Rodgers towards the end of last season.
Lionel Messi latest: Argentine paper reports player will be in Paris on Tuesday
While reports out of Argentina state that Lionel Messi will be in Paris on Tuesday to sign for Paris Saint-Germain.
Expect plenty of reports to pick up today as Messi’s future becomes more clear...
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