Paris: Paris Saint-Germain announced Friday the signing of legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon on a one-year contract with an option for a second season.
The 40-year-old Buffon joins the Ligue 1 champions – the third club of his career after spending 17 year with Serie A champions Juventus. He also retired from national team following Italy’s failure to qualify for the Russia World Cup last year in November. It was also the first time that Italy failed to qualify in 60 years.
“It is with a great feeling of happiness that I join Paris Saint-Germain,” Buffon was quoted as saying on the club’s website. “For the first time in my career, I am leaving my country and only a project this ambitious could have encouraged me to make such a decision. I want to thank the club and the president for their confidence.”
With a trophy for each of his 23 seasons as a professional, Buffon has won the Serie A nine times, but is still pursuing his first Champions League title, despite having reached the final three times. Buffon was named IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2017 and came second in the voting for the 2006 Ballon d’Or.