Former Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has signed for French champions Paris Saint Germain (PSG) on a one-year deal with the option of an extra year, the club said on Friday.

"It is with a great feeling of happiness that I join Paris Saint-Germain," Buffon, who has played 176 times for Italy in a 20-year international career, told the Ligue 1 club's website https://en.psg.fr/news/first-team/gianluigi-buffon-signs-with-paris-saint-germain.

"For the first time in my career, I am leaving my country and only a project this ambitious could have encouraged me to make such a decision. I want to thank the club and the president for their confidence."

The talismanic shot-stopper, now 40, said a tearful farewell to Juventus after 17 seasons at the club when he played his last match for them in a 2-1 win over relegated Verona in May.

Buffon, who made his professional debut for Parma as a 17-year-old in 1995, made his name at Juve, winning nine Serie A and four Coppa Italia titles.

He ended his Juventus career with 300 clean sheets in 655 matches in all competitions.

He joins a PSG side who claimed a domestic treble last season but have struggled to make a mark in Europe despite spending big on players including Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

"To have followed the club's incredible progression in recent years, I know what dreams PSG and its fans have in their hearts," Buffon added.

"I am going to bring all my energy, all my experience and all of my thirst to win to help my new club achieve all the great objectives it has set out for the future."

Buffon's move to the French capital is seen as a final attempt by the experienced keeper to add Europe's elite club competition crown to his glittering trophy cabinet. 

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