Following the arrivals of Georginio Wijnaldum and Danilo Pereira, Achraf Hakimi becomes PSG's third summer signing in a busy transfer window for the French giants.
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The wait is over, as Achraf Hakimi has signed a five-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain. The 22-year-old Moroccan right-back has agreed to a five-year deal with the French giants that will keep him there until 30 June 2026. The promising wing-back arrives at the Parc des Princes after enjoying terrific spells at Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan previously. Notably, he won the 2020/21 Serie A title under Antonio Conte in his only season at Inter last term. Hakimi has earned 36 caps (4 goals, 6 assists) for his national team and took part in the 2018 World Cup with the Atlas Lions.
Speaking to PSG TV about his arrival, Achraf Hakimi said, “I’m happy to be here, I can’t wait to take the next step, I can’t wait to get started, to meet my teammates and to be able to do great things here. I want to say that I’m looking forward to playing with Paris, I’m also looking forward to playing in front of the fans who have been there for a long time and hopefully they will be back soon to cheer us on. I want them to know that I’m going to give everything I can and give my best to achieve our goals.”
Hakimi only had good words to say about PSG and wants to “reach the very top” with the club. “The truth is that I have a good image of France. PSG is a great club and they have shown it in recent years, by improving constantly. From my point of view, I want to continue building something great and reach the very top,” he added. “My opinion of the club is above all the fantastic players that are here and obviously big players want to come to a great club like Paris. So I’m happy to be here and to be part of the team.”
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Born in Madrid, Hakimi joined the Real Madrid youth academy at seven years of age in 2006. Later, he was loaned for two seasons to Borussia Dortmund where he added a German Super Cup to his list of accolades in 2019. He joined Inter Milan in 2020, making 37 league appearances and impressively scoring seven goals and assisting a further ten times to win the league title under Conte.
“The truth is that I’m a defender with the mind of a striker! I like to contribute to the attack, be in attacking areas and I think that here there are great players who will be able to help me,” he added. “And above all that I can help the team achieve its goals. I have to help the team with my qualities and put them at the team’s disposal, to help it and achieve what we all want, to reach all the goals. In defence, I can play in a back 3, 5, 4, 2. Whatever the coach needs. I’m at his and the team’s disposal.”
Hakimi also opened up about his conversation with PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino before moving to Paris. “Yes, before I came, I talked to the coach a little bit about his vision of what he expects from me and what he thinks of me for the team and it was a great conversation,” he further added.
