Paris Saint-Germain have pulled off their latest coup in the transfer market by completing the signing of Kylian Mbappe who has decided to follow the footsteps of Neymar
The 18-year-old striker was the subject of intense transfer speculation all summer but has finally joined his hometown club, initially on loan but with the club having a compulsory purchase clause in the deal that means he will arrive on a permanent basis next summer.
At that time, he is expected to become the world second most expensive player, with the deal reported to be as much as 180 million pounds . His contract will run through June 30, 2022.
“It is with great joy and pride that I join Paris Saint-Germain,” Mbappe said in a press release. For any young person from the Paris region, it is often a dream to wear the red and blue jersey and experience the unique atmosphere of the Parc des Princes.
“I really wanted to be a part of the club project, which is one of the most ambitious in Europe. Alongside my new teammates, I intend to continue my progression while helping the team achieve the very big objectives it has set itself.”
PSG have already smashed the world transfer record this summer, having acquired Neymar from Barcelona for 222m.
As a result of that deal, they could not also afford to sign Mbappe and stay within UEFA Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations, hence the move is simply a loan to begin with.
The teenager is regarded as one of the hottest properties in the game, having exploded into Monaco starting XI in the second half of last season by scoring 26 times in 44 matches.
He has earned widespread praise, with Juventus great Gianluigi Buffon dubbing him a future Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo†.
“Among players of his age, he is without doubt the most promising in the world due to his immense technical, physical and mental qualities,” PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said. (GOAL)
