PSG complete record-breaking Pastore transfer

Paris Saint-Germain FC have shattered the French transfer record by signing playmaker Javier Pastore from US Città di Palermo for €42m.

The fee for the Argentinian international, who has signed a five-year contract, eclipses the €33.5m PSG paid to Real Madrid CF for Nicolas Anelka in 2000. Palermo's 11-goal top scorer in Serie A last season passed a medical at the club's headquarters and is likely to be paraded at the Parc des Princes when PSG host FC Lorient on Saturday in their Ligue 1 opener.

Nicknamed El Flaco (The Thin One), the 22-year-old is PSG's eighth acquisition of a busy summer in which Qatar Sport Investments have taken a 70% stake in the club. Their backing has helped the UEFA Europa League contenders sign Mohamed Sissoko (Juventus), Milan Biševac (Valenciennes FC), Jérémy Menez (AS Roma), Blaise Matuidi (AS Saint-Étienne), Salvatore Sirigu (Palermo), Kevin Gameiro (Lorient) and Nicolas Douchez (Stade Rennais FC).

Antoine Kombouaré's team face Olympiacos Volou FC in the UEFA Europa League play-offs on 18 and 25 August, with the first leg taking place in Greece. Pastore's former employers were knocked out on away goals by FC Thun in the third qualifying round.