Kylian Mbappe confirmed what the football world was long expecting to hear, announcing that he is leaving Paris Saint-Germain ahead of a widely expected move to Real Madrid.
Mbappe said on X on Friday that his final home game for PSG will be on Sunday against Toulouse.
"I never thought it would be this difficult to leave my country," he said in the video post.
"I think I needed this, a new challenge after seven years."
An emotional-looking Mbappe gulped and paused for breath as he addressed PSG's fans.
"It's a club I will keep in my mind for my entire life. I will tell everybody I had the chance to play here."
He added, "You will stay in my heart forever," then winked and raised a thumb.
According to sports daily L'Equipe, Mbappe went to meet and dine with PSG ultras known as CUP (Paris Ultras Collective) shortly after making his announcement. They were set to discuss tributes to him at Parc des Princes on Sunday night.
After that game, French champions PSG have league games to follow at Nice and Metz. He is once more the French league top scorer, with 26 goals.
The 25-year-old Mbappe now captains France and won the World Cup in 2018. He top-scored at the 2022 World Cup, including a rare hat trick in the final.
Mbappe joined PSG in 2017 from Monaco in a deal worth $194 million. He is expected to be bought by 14-time Champions League winners Madrid.
In 2021, PSG turned down a bid of €180 million from Madrid for Mbappe. He renewed his contract with PSG but didn't take up the option for an extra year. Earlier this year, he told PSG he's leaving at the end of the season.
On Friday, he confirmed it.
"I wanted to announce to you all that it's my last year (season) with Paris Saint-Germain. I will not extend (my contract) and the adventure will come to an end in a few weeks," he said.
He has 255 goals for PSG, many of them featuring his trademark move: Sprinting down the left wing, cutting inside a wrong-footed defender and curling the ball into the right corner with speed and precision.
While his prolific output helped to deliver six league titles in seven years, it also often masked glaring deficiencies that were exposed at the highest level in the Champions League.
On Tuesday night, he trudged off the field when PSG went out of the semi-finals of the Champions League after losing to Borussia Dortmund 1-0 in each leg.
Mbappe's departure will end the superstar era at PSG.
Macron hopeful
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday he hoped Mbappe would play in this year's Paris Olympic Games.
"I have no particular comment to make other than the fact that I am counting upon Real Madrid to free up Kylian for the Olympic Games so he can play with the French team," Macron said in a video posted on his X account.
