David Beckham joins Paris St. Germain

By foxsports
Published

David Beckham has joined Paris Saint-Germain and says he will donate his salary to a children's charity.

The 37-year-old former England captain was presented Thursday at the French club's Parc des Princes stadium. The club said he signed a five-month deal. PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi says ''we're very happy to welcome David Beckham to Paris Saint-Germain. He will be joining for five months until 30 June.''

During that time, Beckham says his salary will go to a Paris children's charity. PSG is the latest stop in Beckham's glamorous career, which has seen him win titles with Manchester United, Real Madrid and the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Beckham made his choice mainly for football reasons - the fact PSG are in the Champions League knockout stage and the prospect of winning a league title in a fourth country proved attractive.

The clincher was the presence of coach Carlo Ancelotti and sporting director Leonardo at the club - Beckham knows both men from their time at AC Milan when he had a loan spell at the Italian club.

PSG have the financial clout too - they are Qatari-owned and have been the highest-spending club in Europe in the past year. Beckham received 12 formal offers from around the globe including South America, North America, South Africa, Russia, China and the Middle East as well as Europe.

The 37-year-old is viewing his next move as potentially his last after ending his six-year spell with the Los Angeles Galaxy before Christmas. He has recently been training with Arsenal to try to boost his fitness levels ahead of a move.

According to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, Beckham, who started his career at Manchester United before moving to Real Madrid, will need to get in shape before he is ready to play matches. Wenger said this week: "He told me that he doesn't look at all to be in shape. Beckham is super-ambitious.

"If, in his mind, he wanted to play in the Premier League he would not have gone on holiday. He would have prepared and come in and tried to impress me. He told me he has done nothing at all."

While PSG plays at Toulouse on Friday, Beckham is more likely to make his league debut in the home game against Bastia on Feb. 8.

The Associated Press was used in this report.