Official | Ex-Barcelona and PSG man Kays Ruiz joins Auxerre | OneFootball

Newly-promoted Ligue 1 side Auxerre have this afternoon announecd the signing of former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Kays Ruiz, who has signed a three-year deal.

Ruiz joins on a free transfer, having left Barcelona in May under a year after returning to Catalonia after a five-year spell with PSG. In the French capital, he made seven appearances during Thomas Tuchel’s reign.

The Lyon native had signed his first professional contract at the age of 16 with PSG, having previously been at La Masia.

Foot Mercato reported earlier in the day that the 19-year-old had also attracted interest from clubs in Italy, Belgium and Switzerland, but was intent on staying in France.

Auxerre manager Jean-Marc Furlan, who secured the club’s promotion by beating Saint-Étienne over two legs in the play-off, was reportedly key in convincing Ruiz to join, with owner James Zhou also playing a part in winning the midfielder over. For Ruiz, the priority was a sound project rather than the financial side of things.