Official: Paris Saint-Germain sign Benfica striker Gonçalo Ramos
Gonçalo Ramos has completed his move from Benfica to French champions Paris Saint-Germain, signing a loan deal which will be made permanent at the end of the season.
Ramos arrives at the Parc des Princes just five days before the start of the new Ligue 1 campaign, which begins with PSG hosting Lorient on Saturday evening. The 22-year-old becomes the fifth Portuguese player in the club’s ranks and is part of a new-look frontline following the departure of Lionel Messi.
“It is a great pride and an immense happiness to join Paris Saint-Germain,” Ramos said after his transfer was confirmed. “PSG is one of the biggest clubs in the world with one of the best squads.”
In announcing the deal, PSG stated that Ramos has joined “on loan, with the option to buy at the end of the season” but it is understood that there is a mandatory clause to make the switch permanent inside the next 12 months. Benfica will receive a €65m guaranteed payment, which could rise to €80m after performance-based add-ons.
In a nice touch, the club produced a video in which legendary striker and fellow Portuguese Pedro Pauleta welcomed Ramos to his new home. Pauleta enjoyed great success in front of goal for PSG prior to their Qatari takeover, scoring 109 goals for the club between 2003 and 2008.
Ramos arrives in the French capital to find fellow Luso stars Nuno Mendes, Danilo, Renato Sanches and Vitinha already at the club. Portuguese director of football Luis Campos has looked to his homeland when re-structuring the squad in recent years, although Renato Sanches is tipped to leave the club – possibly to Jose Mourinho’s Roma – before the end of the transfer window.
Olhão-born forward Ramos leaves Benfica having enjoyed a breakthrough season last year, scoring 27 goals in all competitions for the Eagles and famously netting a hat-trick for the Seleção against Switzerland during the World Cup.