Football
Jonathan Johnson, PSG correspondent 7y

Paris Saint-Germain complete signing of Benfica's Goncalo Guedes

Paris Saint-Germain have completed the signing of versatile attacker Goncalo Guedes from SL Benfica for a fee of around €25 million (£22 million).

The Portugal international has signed a contract until 2021 at Parc des Princes and joins the French champions after spending 12 years with the Aguias.

Guedes revealed his delight at his switch to the Ligue 1 giants and expressed his hope to emulate PSG legend Pedro Miguel Pauleta one day.

"I am very happy to join such a big club as PSG," Guedes told the capital club's official website. "Playing here with players of a very high standard will enable me to improve.

"Paris always play to win trophies, so my aim is to win as many trophies as possible and that Paris keep on winning.

"I know my compatriot Pauleta was well loved by PSG fans. I hope to do as well as he did and one day be just as much loved as him."

Guedes, 20, will wear the No. 15 shirt and his arrival is expected to enable Jese Rodriguez to leave Paris before the end of the month after a disappointing start to life in Ligue 1.

PSG Chairman and CEO Nasser Al-Khelaifi extended a warm welcome to the Portuguese starlet and expressed his confidence that Guedes will be a big success on the pitch.

"We are happy to have brought in Goncalo and want to wish him a warm welcome to PSG," said Al-Khelaifi. "Goncalo is a young European talent who fits perfectly with the aims of our project.

"He has been followed by numerous European clubs for several years and he has made the choice to sign for PSG.

"Goncalo will reinforce the link we have had for a long time with our numerous Portuguese fans in the Paris region and I am sure all our supporters will appreciate his technical qualities and his attitude."

Although naturally a wide man, Guedes has spent time playing in a central striking role this season and scored six times from 24 appearances across all competitions.

Initially, the new arrival will probably be treated as the backup option to Edinson Cavani that director of football Patrick Kluivert hoped to bring in this month.

For the long term, it is likely that Guedes will be seen as an additional option for Unai Emery to deploy out wide.

Crucially for PSG, the new signing has already played for Benfica in the UEFA Champions League this season, so is cup-tied in continental competition.

It is yet to be seen whether or not Guedes will be registered in time to feature in the squad to take on AS Monaco in Ligue 1 at Parc des Princes this Sunday.

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