PSG sign Manuel Ugarte from Sporting CP | OneFootball

Paris Saint-Germain have signed defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte from Sporting CP for €60 million.

Ugarte joins PSG as their third confirmed transfer of the summer.

However, they have practically wrapped up deals for Lucas Hernandez (€45 million), Kang-in Lee (€22 million), Marco Asensio (free agent), Milan Skriniar (free agent), and Cher Ndour (free agent).

The 22-year-old had interest from Chelsea as the Blues sought a defensive midfielder. They were in the race for him until the final hours when he chose the Ligue 1 champions.

PSG also needed a midfielder, with their midfield light in the centre. The only defensive midfielder on their books is Danilo Pereira, and he was deputising at centre-back for most of last season with Les Parisiens experiencing a defensive injury crisis.

Sporting director Luis Campos has moved to plug that hole with the signing of the Uruguayan enforcer. He will likely partner Marco Verratti, Vitinha, Luis Fabian, and Carlos Soler in midfield.

Ugarte excels at breaking up opposition play with snappy tackles and overwhelming power.

Ugarte made more tackles and interceptions per 90 than any other player with 900+ minutes in Europe’s top seven leagues during the 2022/23 season.

Also, he is superb at carrying the ball out from the back, veering through tackles to bring his team forward.

Ugarte is an Uruguayan international with eight caps and was part of the 26 players called up by coach Diego Alonso for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The midfielder came up through the CA Fenix Academy in Montevideo. He made his first-team debut in December 2016, aged just 15. He played for them for four years before moving to FC Famalicao in 2020.

After only seven months in Portugal, he earned a move to Sporting. With Leoes, established himself as one of the best young midfield anchors.

Following the signing, Ugarte said (via PSG’s website): “I am sincerely very happy to be able to take this big step in my career in such a big club. I am going to give my all for Paris Saint-Germain.”