PARIS SAINT GERMAIN have signed Thiago Silva from AC Milan for a reported fee of 42 million euros, it has been confirmed.
The Brazil international, 27, had been linked with a move to the Parc des Princes throughout the off-season, and he has now made the switch to the French capital, where he is expected to be joined by his former Milan team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
He has agreed a five-year contract worth a reported 7.5m euros per year, including 1.5m euros in bonuses, and becomes the second most expensive defender in the world after Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand.
After previous failed spells in Europe with Dynamo Moscow and Porto, Thiago Silva returned to the continent in 2009 with AC Milan from Fluminense and lifted the Serie A title in only his second season at the San Siro.
Although the side were unable to retain their Scudetto shield the following campaign, he appeared to have committed his long-term future to the Rossoneri, having similarly penned a five-year extension only a fortnight ago.
However, with Milan’s financial problems well documented, president Silvio Berlusconi confirmed that he had accepted a bid from PSG in the region of 65 million euros for both the Brazilian and Ibrahimovic, despite the Ligue 1 runners-up seeing an initial bid reportedly rejected for the stopper.
But while the deal to bring in the Swede remains incomplete, Thiago Silva is now officially a PSG player and will join up once more with former coach Leonardo, and many ex-Serie A rivals, including Thiago Motta, Javier Pastore and Ezequiel Lavezzi.
PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti said he was delighted to have wrapped up a key signing.
“I am very happy with the arrival of Thiago Silva. He is a fantastic player. Everyone knows he is one of the best defenders in the world.”
PSG, runners-up last season to Montpellier in the French league, are also targeting AC Milan’s Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“There is no agreement as yet – we are still working on when everything is sorted out we will have a press conference,” Ibrahimovic’s agent Nino Raiola told AFP.
Additional reporting: AFP
