PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN SIGN STRIKER RANDAL KOLO MUANI FOR €90 MILLION
Paris Saint-Germain have signed striker Randal Kolo Muani from Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt, the team confirmed on Saturday.
The transfer deal for the 24-year-old is a €90 million (£77.19 million/ $97 million) package that includes a €75 million fixed fee and an additional €15 million in total add-ons. The French international joins the reigning French champions on a five-year deal that will keep him in Paris until June 30th, 2028.
Kolo Muani had informed Frankfurt of his intention to leave for the French capital ahead of the summer transfer window deadline on September 1st. Frankfurt were adamant, however, that they would only part ways with the 6-foot-2 striker if they got an offer with a figure close to €100 million this summer.
In an interview with Sky Germany on Tuesday this week, Kolo Muani publicly revealed that PSG had made a “record offer” to sign him and blatantly stated he would “like to move to Paris.” The young striker subsequently went on a strike to push his move to Paris and failed to turn up for training. The 2022/23 DFB Pokal top goalscorer then drove to Paris on Thursday to try and force through the move.
According to Sky Sports’ Kaveh Solhekol, Paris Saint-Germain President, Nasser Al-Khelaifi’s relationship with Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director, Markus Krösche, was one of the key factors in getting the deal done just in time for last night’s deadline, especially with the strains between Kolo Muani and Frankfurt after this week’s happenings.
Kolo Muani is the eleventh signing by Paris Saint-Germain this summer, behind 20-year-old forward Bradley Barcola, 22-year-olds Manuel Ugarté and Arnau Tenas, 28-year-old center back Milan Škriniar, 27-year-old Lucas Hernández, 19-year-old midfielder Che Ndour, Portuguese international Gonçalo Ramos, 22-year-old South Korean international Kang-in Lee and former La Liga superstars Marcus Asensio and Ousmane Démbéle.
“We are delighted to welcome Randal Kolo Muani – a proud Parisien and Frenchman – to Paris Saint-Germain; to his city and his home,” said PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi. “We have worked incredibly hard to get this transfer over the line. Randal is a fantastic French international player and is committed to PSG and our project. I’m so excited to see Randal in a PSG jersey, giving everything for the club.”
PSG head coach Luis Enrique spoke on the new signing on Saturday saying, “We saw the level of Kolo Muani in the national team and [at] Frankfurt. He can play everywhere, as a striker or winger. He is very versatile. He is a luxury signing for us. He is French, and it was among the requests to strengthen the club’s identity.”
Enrique then told reporters he was “very satisfied” with the transfer window that PSG have had labelling it “an exceptional transfer window.” “I’d like to thank the President [Nasser Al-Khelaifi] and Luis Campos for all their hard work,” said Enrique. “It’s hard to have a better window! All my requests have been met and every position has been strengthened. Now it’s up to the players and staff to restore the confidence the club has shown in them. These conditions are perfect for a coach. Now it’s a question of who deserves to play.”
Muani’s addition to France’s most famous team now means the club will have France’s front three in Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Randal Kolo Muani. Muani made headlines in December when he failed to score past Argentinian goalkeeper Emi Martinez in the World Cup final, a chance that France came to rue as Argentina won the country’s third World Cup trophy.
Kolo Muani is currently recovering from a sprained right ankle and will remain in treatment for the next few days, although the stance from the club is that the injury isn’t serious.
Paris intended to let go of striker Hugo Ekitiké before the deadline on Friday in order to be able to finance the move for Kolo Muani with multiple European clubs including English teams, Crystal Palace and West Ham, interested in the Frenchman. Ekitiké was keen on a move to Crystal Palace but only on loan, a move that PSG were not ready to approve.
As per Sky Sports’ Kaveh Solhekol, Paris Saint-Germain received a €35 million offer from Kolo Muani’s Eintracht Frankfurt for Ekitiké but the 21-year-old declined a move to the German financial capital. Ekitiké also turned down a move to the Russian League after Russian giants Zenit St. Petersburg came in with a €40 million bid.
PSG have informed the former Reims man that he will not play another minute for the club despite a deal not materializing at the deadline. Ekitiké, one of PSG’s top signings last summer, has an escape route, however, and could still make a move to Russia before the Russian window closes on September 11th. The Reims-born striker could also join the Saudi Pro League if any of the Saudi clubs are interested in his services.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
Photo: Zakarie Faibis. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.