Football
Jonathan Johnson, PSG correspondent 6y

Lassana Diarra joins PSG after terminating Al Jazira contract

PARIS -- Paris Saint-Germain have completed the signing of Lassana Diarra on a free transfer after the France international terminated his contract with Al Jazira Club by mutual consent.

Diarra, 32, has been unattached since December, when he left the United Arab Emirates side once his contract was annulled. He signed an 18-month deal with PSG and will wear the No. 19 shirt for his hometown club.

The former Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid man successfully completed his medical at the American Hospital in the Parisian suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine on Monday.

"I am very happy to have signed for my hometown club," Diarra told PSG's official website. "PSG represents a lot to me and with the international dimension the club has taken on in recent seasons, it is every player's dream to play here.

"I am lucky enough to make this dream come true, to know what it feels like to play at Parc des Princes wearing red and blue. I intend to do everything I can, bring all my experience and show all of my desire to play, to prove that the club has made the right choice in showing their confidence in me."

Diarra returns to Ligue 1 as a free agent and most recently played in Ligue 1 with PSG's bitter rivals Marseille from 2015-17. The Frenchman, who has also featured for Le Havre, Portsmouth, Anzhi Makhachkala and Lokomotiv Moscow at senior level, has played 34 times for Les Bleus at international level but is yet to score for his country.

PSG coach Unai Emery was keen to add some depth in defensive midfield with Thiago Motta struggling for fitness and he has ultimately managed to persuade sporting director Antero Henrique to provide that.

"We are delighted to welcome Lassana, a quality footballer, to PSG," CEO Nasser Al-Khelaifi told the club's website. "His vast experience, both of foreign leagues and international football with the France national team, gives our coaching staff another option as we enter a very exciting second half of the season.

"I know that Lassana is very ambitious -- like everyone here. Our fans at Parc des Princes really love players that hail from the Paris region. I know they will give him a warm welcome and the strength to help our team reach its objectives."

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