PSG free transfers: Lionel Messi joins Sergio Ramos, Georginio Wijnaldum and Gianluigi Donnarumma
Messi joins Georginio Wijnaldum, Sergio Ramos and Gianluigi Donnarumma in Paris after they all ended their contracts and became free agents
Lionel Messi became Paris Saint-Germain’s fourth free transfer of the summer when he was unveiled by Paris Saint-Germain in a press conference after completing move to the club on Tuesday.
The 34-year-old Messi has signed a two-year deal with the option of a third worth around €35m per year. He will wear the No30 shirt, the same number he wore when he first joined Barcelona.
Messi, 34, became a free agent on 1 July when his deal with Barcelona expired and had reached an agreement to extend his 21-year stay with the Spanish club. Messi leaves Barcelona having scored a record 672 goals in 778 appearances for the club, winning 10 La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues as well as six Ballon d’Or awards.
Messi joins Georginio Wijnaldum, Sergio Ramos and Gianluigi Donnarumma in Paris after they all ended their contracts and became free agents.
Wijnaldum, 30, had been at Liverpool where he helped to win the Champions League and Premier League in successive seasons. Ramos, 35, had been the long-standing captain of Real Madrid, while Donnarumma, 22, had been at AC Milan since moving to the San Siro from Napoli as a teenager.
The ploy to sign free players is part of PSG’s effort to avoid Uefa sanctions for breaching Financial Fair Play rules, although they are still paying huge signing-on fees and wages.
Barcelona have tried a similar tactic given their recent financial woes, signing Memphis Depay, Sergio Aguero, and Eric Garcia all as free agents this summer.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies