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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Glad it’s not serious but definitely not going to be good for his preparation though.
@Brendan Heery: it means he needs to backload the km and the height metres in the interim also. That said I’d say he’ll be ok.
Chances of the Colombian with an Irish sounding name to be their man ?