Neymar signs 5-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain
Neymar has become the most expensive player in soccer history after completing his blockbuster transfer to Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona on Thursday for $262 million.
PSG triggered the release clause in the forward’s Barcelona contract, which was more than double the previous transfer record set a year ago when Manchester United paid $116 million for Paul Pogba.
PSG said in a statement that Neymar, 25, had signed a five-year contract, until June 2022. “His arrival into the Paris Saint-Germain family emphasizes more than ever the club’s aims to rise to the top of world football,” the club said.
In his four seasons in Spain, Neymar scored 105 goals as Barcelona won the Champions League, Club World Cup, two Spanish league titles and Copa del Rey three times.
Neymar leaves the shadow Lionel Messi and will join a team without the track record of success of his former club.
Barcelona — which says it will complain to UEFA about the transfer — has lifted the European Cup five times and won the FIFA Club World Cup three times. PSG has yet to win either.
Neymar is expected in Paris on Friday. It was unclear whether he will play for his new team Saturday, when PSG hosts Amiens to start its league season.
Tournament of Nations: Australia won the inaugural event, beating Brazil 6-1 in Carson (Los Angeles County) on Thursday to claim the four-team round-robin women’s event .
The victory rendered irrelevant the top-ranked Americans’ later match against Japan. In a rematch of the 2015 World Cup final, which the U.S. won 5-2, the Americans prevailed 3-0.
Megan Rapinoe, 32, scored for the second match in a row to continue her bounce-back year. Mallory Pugh and Cal alum Alex Morgan had the other two goals.
Stanford still No. 1: Coming off back-to-back national titles, the Stanford men are ranked No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches’ preseason poll. Wake Forest, which Stanford beat in penalties in the College Cup final in December, is ranked second. The Cardinal open their season Sept. 1 against No. 14 Creighton at Cagan Stadium.