PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN HAVE completed the signing of Gianluigi Buffon, with the 40-year-old goalkeeper penning a one-year contract with the Ligue 1 champions.
Goal revealed on Thursday that a legendary figure of the modern era had agreed terms with the French giants and was poised to take on a new challenge.
That has now been confirmed, with the deal which takes Buffon to France including a 12-month extension option which could take him past his 42nd birthday.
He links up with PSG after leaving Juventus as a free agent, with the last 17 years having been spent in Turin.
Buffon told his new club’s official website as he prepares to open a new chapter in an iconic career: “It is with a great feeling of happiness that I join Paris Saint-Germain.
“For the first time in my career, I am leaving my country and only a project this ambitious could have encouraged me to make such a decision.
“I want to thank the club and the president for their confidence. To have followed the club’s incredible progression in recent years, I know what dreams Paris Saint-Germain and its fans have in their hearts.
“I am going to bring all my energy, all my experience and all of my thirst to win to help my new club achieve all the great objectives it has set out for the future.
“With my teammates and our supporters, we will share fantastic emotions at the Parc des Princes and in all of the stadiums in which we are going to represent Paris, a marvellous city that deserves to one day see its club at the top of international football.”
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi added: “We all feel an immense pride in welcoming Gianluigi Buffon into the great Paris Saint-Germain family.
“The immensity of his career, as well as his ambitious personality, unifying and elegant, make him one of the most admired and respected players in world football.
“At 40 years old, his passion for football is intact and Gianluigi has found the ideal environment in our project to set himself extremely high objectives transmitting his experience, not only to the other goalkeepers at the club, but to all of our players.
“Our supporters will know how to welcome Buffon with the enthusiasm and love that he deserves.
“His arrival reaffirms our will to always go higher, an ambition that we intend to pursue with a determination just as strong.”
Buffon won nine Serie A titles during his time with Juventus and also tasted World Cup glory with Italy in 2006.
He has, however, never been able to get his hands on the coveted Champions League crown and will be hoping to challenge for that elusive honour once again after joining ambitious PSG.
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Don’t go there kid.. Go somewhere where you’ll be appreciated and where you’ll only get better
@Chonky Racoon: spot on I know it’s hard to say no to these huge clubs but better for your future if you went to a smaller club and got plenty of game time clubs like Dortmund or Lyon who have history of bringing players throught
There not holding back anyway
Every country has a Messi these days. Wessi was our Messi!
Is he the first Japanese man to sign for them, first Asian perhaps? Can’t think of anyone else off hand. Lá liga will be delighted either way!
@Hardly Normal: he’s signed for Castilla , it’s Real Madrid’s B team .. it’s a strategic move for Madrid , the player himself may not thrive though. A guy like Odegaard is making a name for himself in Holland but it’s unlikely he’ll ever triumph in Real Madrid . It’s surprising that he didn’t go back to Barca tbh .
@Hardly Normal: As Mr. Madrugada points out, Kubo is signing for Castilla, not Real Madrid (a tehnicality). But Real Madrid (including Castilla and Real Madrid C) have had at least two Asian players before. There was some fanfare a few years back when they signed Chinese Lin Liangming. There was also a Jordanian (Tha’er Bawab) who played for both Real and Barce’s B-Teams back in the early 00s.
@Limón Madrugada: do you think Odegaard will ever make it with Madrid or will just be sold on ??
@Philip Farrell: you hardly rattled that off the top of your head, if you did fair play. So no asain player has played for Real Madrid proper? I’d put money on it this lad will get an opportunity if he shows any bit of promise. The asain market is untapped from a Spanish point of view, interesting move.
@Andrew Tuite: sold on I reckon , he’s done well in Holland and Ajax are looking at him . He’d be useful as part of the deal for de Ligt !! But he needs to make a proper breakthrough for Madrid to see him as first team material.
Great news for la liga