Paris Saint-Germain have announced the signing of French defender Nordi Mukiele from RB Leipzig.
The 24-year-old has become the Ligue 1 champions' third acquisition of the summer window, following Vitinha and Hugo Ekitike to the Parc des Princes for the 2022-23 season.
PSG will reportedly pay a total fee of €16m (£13.5m) for the services of Mukiele, who has signed a five-year contract with Christophe Galtier's side until 2027.
Mukiele is set to provide competition for Achraf Hakimi in the right-wing back role, while he could also act as backup for the likes of Sergio Ramos, Marquinhos and Presnel Kimpembe at centre-back.
Chelsea were allegedly hoping to hijack a move for the former Montpellier HSC man at the last minute, but Mukiele has already made the decision to return to his homeland.
"Playing for your hometown team is obviously a dream. I grew up in the Paris region, in Montreuil to be more specific, so playing for Paris is a massive honour for me, for my friends and for my family, and I'm really happy to have worked so hard to be here today," Mukiele told the official PSG website.
"When I found out that Paris were interested in me and that they wanted me to come here, I obviously gave it some thought because it was really important. This is a huge step in my career.
"It's not a choice to be taken lightly, but I think and I'm sure that I made the right one. I try to do my job, and I try to work every day in order to reach the highest level of football.
🔴 #WelcomeNordi 🔵
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) July 26, 2022
👋 @NordiMukiele pic.twitter.com/K8oD9K3VqL
"Obviously, now, being at Paris Saint-Germain, one of the best clubs in the world, shows that the work that I've done in the last few years has been rewarded. I'm really happy, and now, it's up to me to keep working, as I have done so far, and to keep improving in the years to come.
"I think that me coming back to France is a very good thing. I'm French, and I haven't been here in four years. I'm really happy to be back. A player should have many aims, and my aim is to do my best to try to be at the World Cup.
"I'll need to be good in training and then in games and to perform well week in, week out. Either way, that's what I plan to do in order to take part in the next World Cup."
Mukiele - who was previously linked with a switch to Manchester United - leaves Leipzig after recording 10 goals and 11 assists in 146 games during a four-year spell.
The defender won his only trophy with Die Roten Bullen last term in the form of the DFB-Pokal, playing 59 minutes of the victory in the final against Freiburg.
In total, Mukiele found the back of the net twice and provided five assists in 38 matches during the 2021-22 season, and he previously made 50 appearances in Ligue 1 with Montpellier.
The Frenchman has followed the likes of Tyler Adams, Hwang Hee-chan and Brian Brobbey out of the Red Bull Arena exit door in the current transfer window.
Ben Knapton
