Lionel Messi has officially moved on from Barcelona, signing a two-year deal to join Paris St-Germain.
The deal includes the option for a third year, and is still subject to a medical exam.
The deal will be for GBP 25 million per year after tax, with the 34-year-old to receive a GBP 25 million signing-on fee, according to Sky Sports.
While the deal has yet to be announced, it was first confirmed by BBC Sports columnist Guillem Balague.
“It’s all been confirmed. Lionel Messi is going to be a PSG player,” Balague said on BBC Radio 5 Live. “That’s it, it’s done. It’s happened in the last few minutes.”
“At the moment there are as much police as there are fans [at the stadium]. That’s going to change soon. There’s eight cameras here, again that’s going to change. It seems like it is a two-year deal, plus one,” he continued.
“His idea was to do it at Barcelona but it’s going to be PSG. Then if he feels OK he will stay one more year maybe. But in any case his aim is to be at PSG and then to do well in the Qatar World Cup.”
Messi won the Ballon d’Or six times, a record, and held 35 trophies with his now former team, one of the most successful player-team partnerships in sports history.
The signing reunites the Argentinian with former Barcelona teammate Neymar.
Messi had an emotional goodbye to his former club earlier this week, holding a press conference in tears.
““The truth is don’t know what to say. In recent days I have given lots of thought to what I can say and the truth is that I can’t think of anything,” Messi said at the press conference..
“This is really difficult for me after so many years being here, my entire life. I’m not ready for this. After 21 years I’m leaving with my three Catalan Argentine kids. We’ve lived in this city, this is our home. I’m just really grateful for everything, all my team-mates, everyone who has been by my side. I gave everything for this club from the first day I arrived to the last. I never imagined having to say goodbye as I didn’t think about it. I love this club. Without seeing the fans for over a year and a half has been very hard,” he continued.
“If I had imagined it , I would’ve imagined the Camp Nou full and being able to say goodbye properly. A lot of things have gone through my head. I’ve still not come to terms with the reality of leaving this club now and changing my life. We need to accept it and move forward.”
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