Mercato: Neves joins PSG and more!

A new face for PSG...

 Champions Paris Saint-Germain have announced the second major signing of their summer window with the arrival of João Neves from SL Benfica. The 19-year-old defensive midfielder, who has already won nine caps for his country, arrives in the French capital on a five-year contract. In coming to Paris, he'll join countrymen Vitinha, Go˜nçalo Ramos, Nuno Mendes and Danilo Pereira, all of whom took part at Euro 2024 this summer.

 Speaking to the club's website, he remarked that, “I'm very proud to be joining Paris Saint-Germain, a very ambitious club. I'm going to give my all to help my teammates, to grow at this fantastic club and to win numerous titles. This is a young club with high aims, and I think that that way of thinking and of trying to make the club stronger with young players is a great project. I want to use this new chapter in my career to become a better player and to develop as a footballer."

Paris Saint-Germain is delighted to announce the signing of João Neves. ✍️

The 19-year-old midfielder has committed to the Club until 2029. 🔴🔵#WelcomeJoãoNeves

🔗: https://t.co/jPXkpeYl9b pic.twitter.com/wbdpDgPiOg

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 5, 2024

 ...and two departures

With the champions welcoming in Neves, they also announced two departures, on loan. A star of the European Championships with the Netherlands on the back of having helped RB Leipzig reach the knockout rounds of the UEFA Champions League last season, Xavi Simons has rejoined the German club on a further year's loan. He'll aim to build on his success with his club a year on from having been named to the Bundesliga team of the year. 

Also in the exit queue is Renato Sanches, the Portugese midfielder who spent last season at AS Roma. Beset by injuries in the Italian capital, he will return to Benfica, where he first broke through as a teenager, on a season-long loan with an option to buy.

Another Canadian in Marseille

Marseille continued what has been a very mercato with another arrival. After formalizing the departure of Ismaïla Sarr to Crystal Palace last week, Roberto de Zerbi's side announced another new arrival, following those of Ismaël Koné, Pierre-Emile Højberg, Mason Greenwood and Lilian Brassier with Canadian international Derek Cornelius. The Ontario-born center back has had an itinerant career, but his recent spell with Malmö in Sweden has seen impress on a consistent basis. Having earned more than two dozen caps for his country, he joins countryman Koné in making the move to the Vélodrôme, signing a four-year contract on Sunday.

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