Ligue 1: PSG confirms signing Manuel Ugarte from Sporting Lisbon

French football club,PSG has confirmed signing midfielder Manuel Ugarte from Sporting Lisbon for a reported 60 million euros (£51.1m).

The 22-year-old Uruguay international signed a five-year contract that will keep him at the Parc des Princes until June 2028.

Speaking to the club’s website, Ugarte said;

“I’m really happy to take this big step in my career at such a great club. I’m going to give my all for Paris Saint-Germain.”

The footballer made his first-team debut for hometown club CA Fenix at the age of 15, before moving to Portugal to play for Famalicao and getting snapped up by Sporting.

The 22-year-old was called up for the World Cup in Qatar last year and has eight caps for Uruguay. Chelsea were at one stage considered to be the favorites to sign Ugarte, who also attracted the interest of two other Premier League teams in the shape of Liverpool and Aston Villa.

Manuel Ugarte at a match for Sporting Lisbon. Source: Reuters

However, the Blues soon pulled out of the race for the South American, who quickly earmarked the Parc des Princes as his preferred destination for a summer move.

Ugarte is the third player to be recruited by PSG this summer after Skriniar and Asensio signed on free transfers. France’s 2018 World Cup-winning defender Lucas Hernandez is also expected to arrive as new coach Luis Enrique looks to strengthen his team for next season.

However, there remain ongoing questions about the future of Kylian Mbappe, who said last month that he would not extend his contract, which expires next year.

If there is no change to his stance the club must sell the player in the current transfer window, otherwise, they will likely lose him for nothing when his deal ends.