Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum has joined Roma on an initial season-long loan.
As part of the agreement, there is an option for the transfer to be made permanent at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.
“It’s a really good feeling to be a Roma player,” Wijnaldum said. “Everyone I have spoken to has given me great feedback about the club and its fans.
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“The club made it clear just how much they wanted me in the efforts they made to complete the deal, which always gives a player a lot of confidence and belief. The reception from the supporters, on social media and elsewhere, has also been fantastic.
“I promise to give 100% and help the team compete for all our targets this season.”
It is believed Roma’s option to buy will cost them €8 million, with PSG covering the Dutch international’s wages for the months of July and August. Roma will then pay €9 million gross for his wages for the remainder of the season.
Roma’s owners, the Friedkin Group, are understood to have sent a private jet to Rotterdam to pick up Wijnaldum’s family during the completion of the deal. The flight then re-routed to Paris to collect the 31-year-old midfielder and landed at the Ciampino airport in Roma on Thursday, where he was greeted at the airport by hundreds of the club’s supporters.
Wijnaldum signed for PSG on a free transfer from Liverpool in 2021 but departs after just one full season at the Ligue 1 champions as he failed to establish himself in Mauricio Pochettino’s side. The Ligue 1 champions continued to bolster their midfield, however, as they signed Renato Sanches from Lille on Thursday.
The 31-year-old, however, will be hoping to have a new lease of life in Italy with Roma, who won the UEFA Europa Conference League last season under the guidance of Jose Mourinho and are aiming to make a push for a Champions League berth this season.
Wijnaldum is their fifth signing in the summer transfer window, joining Zeki Celik, Paulo Dybala, Nemanja Matic and Mile Svilar.
Roma’s Serie A campaign begins on Sunday, August 14 when they travel to Salernitana.
GO DEEPER
Winning Roma's first trophy in 14 years makes Mourinho close to immortal in Eternal City
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