Paris Saint-Germain signs Neymar from Barcelona

Paris Saint-Germain have completed the signing of Brazilian forward, Neymar from Barcelona for €222 million smashing the world transfer record in the process.

Neymar who has been linked with a move all summer, put pen to-paper on a five-year contract.

Paris Saint-Germain are very pleased to announce the arrival of Neymar Jr, the Parisiens said in a statement on their official website.

The Brazilian attacker signed a five-year contract in the presence of club and player representatives. Neymar Jr is now tied to the club of the capital until June 30, 2022.

Paris Saint-Germain is very happy to announce the arrival of Neymar Jr ➡ https://t.co/lKFj4qPDYA #BemvindoNeymarJR 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/rSvlBiKX6D

— PSG Officiel (@PSG_inside) August 3, 2017

The signing comes after, La Liga earlier on Thursday attempted to derail the deal by refusing to accept the €222m payment from Neymar's lawyer, but his representatives paid direct to Barcelona instead.

I am extremely happy to join Paris Saint-Germain, Neymar said in a statement 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 four 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.

Neymar will be paid around €30m per year after taxes and has been handed a major signing bonus in excess of his net annual sum.

It is with immense joy and pride that we welcome Neymar Jr to Paris Saint-Germain," PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said.

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 realizing our greatest dreams.

PSG plans to present their new signing on Friday and could debut in PSG's Ligue 1 opener at home against Amiens on Saturday.

The fee, shatters the existing record of €105m, set last year by Paul Pogba as PSG went over by doubling the price Manchester United paid for the ex-Juventus midfielder.

Neymar emerged as a teenage wonderkid at Santos, winning the Copa Libertadores in 2011 before switching Brazil for Spain in 2013.

Neymar scored 105 goals in 186 games for Barca, forming part of the formidable MSN forward line alongside Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi. 

Having gone trophyless in his debut season Neymar celebrated the treble in 2014-15, adding a further Liga and two Copa del Rey trophies in the following two campaigns as well as a host of other team and individual titles.