PSG Beats Barca to Sign Georginio Wijnaldum

Georginio WIJNALDUM in 2019
Germany vs. Netherlands. Georginio WIJNALDUM (NED) - and Joshua KIMMICH (GER). Photo by Pixathlon/Shutterstock (10404808ad)

Ex-Liverpool star midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum will suit up for Ligue 1 powerhouse Paris-Saint Germain next season. Wijnaldum, who became a free agent earlier this month, inked a three-year deal with the French club. PSG confirmed the news on their social media.

Following the official announcement, Wijnaldum tweeted that he’s “very proud to join one of the best squads in Europe.”

The news comes as a surprise, especially since it appeared that Wijnaldum was heading to Spain to join Barcelona. The 30-year-old Dutchman had a deal in place with Barca for some time and was set to undergo a physical earlier this week.

But before the Catalan giants managed to close the job, PSG swooped in with an offer that would double Wijnaldum’s wages. This, alongside a chat with head coach Mauricio Pochettino, ultimately convinced the player to change his mind.

Georginio Wijnaldum started his career in the native Netherlands, where he played for Feyenoord and PSV. He then spent one season with Newcastle United before joining Premier League giants Liverpool in 2016.

Wijnaldum immediately became an ever-present figure in Liverpool’s midfield, making 237 appearances in five seasons and scoring 22 goals. He won multiple trophies with the club, including the UEFA Champions League title in 2018-19 and the Premier League title in 2019-20.

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