Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed the signing of Portugal international midfielder Joao Neves from Benfica, officially ending Manchester United's hopes of a deal for the talented teenager.
Neves was thought to have been near the top of Man United's midfield wishlist after bursting onto the scene with Benfica, whom he scored four goals and set up three more in 75 appearances for.
The 2023-24 campaign saw the 2004-born defensive midfielder register three goals and two assists from 55 appearances, form which caught the attention of Portugal boss Roberto Martinez, who called him up for Euro 2024.
Neves made two appearances for the Selecao in Germany as his nation progressed to the quarter-finals, and he was tipped to succeed Casemiro in Erik ten Hag's engine room next season.
However, Man United had seemingly been priced out of a move for the 19-year-old, whose previous Benfica contract included a release clause of €120m (£103.3m), and the Eagles were thought to have been holding out for that sum in full to let him go.
👀 𝐁𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞 à Paris ! 🔴🔵#WelcomeJoãoNeves pic.twitter.com/IdjMbKCDrc
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) August 5, 2024
Neves was "so passionate" to join PSG
Those claims were denied by Benfica president Rui Costa, though, before the Eagles chief also confirmed that his side had accepted a package of €70m (£60.3m) from French champions PSG.
After teasing Neves's arrival on social media with an animation of an eagle flying over the Parc des Princes, PSG officially announced the signing of the youngster, who has penned a five-year contract in the French capital.
"I'm very proud to be joining Paris Saint-Germain, a very ambitious Club. I'm going to give my all to help my team-mates, to grow at this fantastic Club and to win numerous titles," Neves told the official PSG website.
Meanwhile, club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi added: "We are delighted to welcome Joao Neves to the Paris Saint-Germain family. Joao is one of most talented players in Portugal and internationally.
"He was so passionate to join Paris Saint-Germain and determined to fight for the jersey - which is what we expect of all our players. We continue to build a fantastic young team at Paris Saint-Germain - based on teamwork, talent and collective spirit - which is the foundation of our Club's great future."
The midfielder's signing is the second PSG-related transfer blow that Man United have suffered in a matter of hours, as the French champions also allowed rumoured Red Devils target Xavi Simons to rejoin RB Leipzig on a season-long loan.
Could Neves blow still help Man United?
© Imago
Neves becomes PSG's second signing of the summer window, following Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov to the French capital, and Les Parisiens are also said to be advancing in talks over a deal for Eintracht Frankfurt centre-back Willian Pacho.
Neves's primary position is number six, meaning that the Portugal international is expected to compete with the likes of Danilo Pereira, Warren Zaire-Emery, Gabriel Moscardo and Manuel Ugarte for starts in the PSG engine room in the 2024-25 season.
However, his arrival comes in the wake of reports that Man United are targeting Uruguay international Ugarte, who only joined the French champions from Sporting Lisbon in the summer of 2023.
The 23-year-old started the season as Enrique's first-choice number six, but he fell slightly out of favour towards the end of the season and did not earn any minutes in either leg of PSG's Champions League semi-final loss to Borussia Dortmund.
Les Parisiens have not relented on their reported €60m (£51.7m) asking price for Ugarte, but they could very well lower their demands thanks to Neves's arrival, as PSG are not short of defensive midfield options.
PSV Eindhoven's Joey Veerman, free agent Adrien Rabiot and Burnley's Sander Berge have been mentioned as alternative options for Man United, who are also working on a double deal for Bayern Munich defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui.
Ben Knapton
