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It's official! Paris Saint-Germain smash the world record with €222m Neymar transfer

The Brazilian superstar arrives from Barcelona on a five-year deal.

Updated at 21.00

NEYMAR HAS COMPLETED his world record transfer to Paris Saint-Germain tonight — signing a five-year contract with the French giants.

The 25-year-old Brazilian broke his contract earlier today as Barcelona accepted the €222million release clause. And PSG have just given confirmation that the deal is done.

“I am extremely happy to join Paris Saint-Germain, said Neymar. “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 team-mates 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 four seasons in Europe and I feel ready to take the challenge. From today, I will do everything I can to help my new team-mates, to open up new horizons for my club and to bring happiness to its millions of supporters around the world.”

Barca had released an official statement on Thursday that read: “On Thursday afternoon Neymar Jr’s legal representatives visited in person the club’s offices and made the payment of €222m in the player’s name with regards to the unilateral termination of the contract that united both parties.

“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.”

Earlier today, La Liga refused to accept an attempt to pay the release clause at their offices in Madrid, leading to France’s Ligue de Football Professionnel to call on the Spanish body to “abide by the rules of Fifa and its responsibilities”.

Neymar’s move has now been completed, with the Ligue 1 side reportedly ready to unveil the Brazilian on Friday.

Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu has previously suggested PSG’s move for Neymar would not be possible without contravening Uefas’ Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.

It is understood UEFA will investigate the deal if it suspects that there has been any breach of FFP rules.

La Liga president Javier Tebas has also threatened to report PSG to Uefa over the deal, which will set a new world-record transfer, smashing the previous record set by Paul Pogba’s €105m move from Juventus to Manchester United a year ago.

Neymar has reportedly already undergone a medical in Porto, and it is believed he will travel to the French capital to finalise the deal on Friday.

‘Once a country owns a club, everything is possible – it’s beyond calculation, beyond rationality’

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