Paris Saint-Germain has signed Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov from Krasnodar for a five-year contract, the French champions confirmed on Friday.

The signing of a Russian player from a Russian top-tier club comes more than two years after Russia invaded Ukraine, resulting in penalties against Russian athletes and a ban on Russian clubs participating in European football competitions.

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“I’m really happy to be joining Paris Saint-Germain, one of the world’s biggest clubs in terms of its history and what it has won,” said 25-year-old Safonov.

“I can’t wait to meet my new teammates, defend my new colours and make the fans proud. Allez Paris!”

PSG complimented the former Krasnodar captain’s qualities in a statement posted on the club’s website.

The team noted Safonov was “renowned for his leadership qualities” and that “played a large part in Krasnodar’s excellent campaign, in which they finished second in the league, just a point behind (champions) FC Zenit” .

Safonov has captained Krasnodar since 2020, after graduating from the club’s junior programme. He made 175 appearances for the southern Russian team.

The goalkeeper has 14 caps for Russia since his debut in June 2021.

He appeared in two group-stage games for his country at Euro 2020, which was held in 2021 because to the Covid-19 epidemic.

With Safonov’s arrival, PSG now has four goalkeepers, including Italian number one Gianluigi Donnarumma.

As Italy prepared to begin their European Championship defence against Albania on Saturday, Luciano Spalletti, his national team coach, stated Donnarumma “will find a better team” than PSG if Safonov threatens his starting position.