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Georginio Wijnaldum aiming to take PSG ‘even higher’ after sealing move

<span>Photograph: Paul Ellis/Reuters</span>
Photograph: Paul Ellis/Reuters

Georginio Wijnaldum has joined Paris St Germain on a three-year contract following his departure from Liverpool.

The Netherlands midfielder, who turns 31 in November, failed to agree new terms with Liverpool after negotiations hit an impasse over salary and the length of a deal.

Related: Men’s transfer window summer 2021 – all deals from Europe’s top five leagues

Wijnaldum agreed terms to join Barcelona, under his former Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman, but PSG offered twice the salary and hijacked the deal.

“Signing for Paris St-Germain is a new challenge for me,” Wijnaldum told the club’s website. “I’m joining one of the best squads in Europe and I want to bring all my desire and commitment to this ambitious project.

“Paris St-Germain have proved how good they are in recent years and I am convinced that together, with our supporters, we can go even further and higher.”

Wijnaldum

Jürgen Klopp paid tribute to Wijnaldum on Thursday. “I will miss the player he is like crazy – highest-quality ability, one of the smartest players I have ever had the privilege to coach,” Liverpool’s manager told his club’s website. “His contribution was off the scale, a manager’s dream. But as a person he’ll leave just as big a hole.

“Of course, he is now someone else’s and on behalf of the team we wish him great success in France with PSG. Farewell, Gini: you came, you saw, you won the lot. You’re a Liverpool legend now and forever.”