Paris St Germain have announced the signing of Brazil forward Neymar on a five-year contract.
Neymar joins the Parisians after his advisers handed over the €222m lump sum required to trigger his release clause on Thursday.
The Brazilian is reportedly set to earn 30 million euros (£27million) net per year, or close to 600,000 euros (£540,000) each week after tax, and said that he was attracted to the club by their ambition.
“I am extremely happy to join Paris Saint-Germain,” Neymar Jr told the club’s official website after signing his contract.
“Since I arrived in Europe, the club has always been one of the most competitive and most ambitious. And the biggest challenge, what most motivated me to join my new teammates is to help the club to conquer the titles that their fans want.
“Paris Saint-Germain’s ambition attracted me to the club, along with the passion and the energy this brings. I played 4 seasons in Europe and I feel ready to take the challenge. From today, I will do everything I can to help my new teammates, to open up new horizons for my club and to bring happiness to its millions of supporters around the world.”
Nasser Al-Khelaifi, President of Paris Saint-Germain, said that the signing of Neymar brings the club one step closer to ‘realising their greatest dreams’ and that the club is already at the highest level of national and European football.
“It is with immense joy and pride that we welcome Neymar Jr to Paris Saint-Germain, said Al-Khelaifi.
“Neymar Jr is today one of the very best players in world football. His winning mentality, strength of character and sense of leadership have made him into a great player. He will bring a very positive energy to this club.
“In six years, we have built a very ambitious project that has already taken us to the highest level of national and European football.
“Today, with the arrival of Neymar Jr, I am convinced that we will come even closer, with the support of our faithful fans, to realising our greatest dreams.”
Earlier on Thursday, Barcelona confirmed in a brief statement that Neymar would be leaving the Nou Camp and that the club would be passing details of his transfer over to Uefa to see if any disciplinary issues had been raised with the transfer.
“On Thursday afternoon Neymar Jr’s legal representatives visited in person the Club’s offices and made the payment of 222 million euros in the player’s name with regards to the unilateral termination of the contract that united both parties,” the club said in a statement.
“As such, the Club will pass on to UEFA the details of the above operation so that they can determine the disciplinary responsibilities that may arise from this case.”