Former Juventus forward Alessandro Del Piero has announced he is joining Sydney FC in a deal that will make him the highest-profile player in the A-League.
Del Piero says he is starting "a splendid and great adventure" and that he couldn't have chosen "a better situation or a better place."
The two-year deal is reportedly worth $2 million per season, which would make Del Piero the highest paid athlete in Australia's four football codes, including rugby league, rugby union and Australian Rules.
Del Piero's move to Sydney hit the headlines last week, but completion of the deal has been delayed after Liverpool and Premier League rivals Southampton both reportedly made late offers.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers last week admitted his frustration at failing to bring in a replacement for Andy Carroll after the striker was loaned to West Ham before Friday's transfer deadline.
With Del Piero still available as a free agent Sydney chief executive Tony Pignata this morning claimed that Liverpool had made a late attempt to hijack the deal.
But even though negotiations continued on into today Del Piero has been convinced to move Down Under.
"Liverpool have come in - and they're a big club, there's no denying that," Pignata told Fox Sports Australia.
"But I think the attraction of Australia might sway us."
In addition to Liverpool and Southampton, Sydney also have also fended off interest from Champions League clubs Celtic and Braga as well as Swiss side Sion.
Del Piero, who turns 38 in November, made 91 appearances for Italy and is the all-time leading goalscorer for Juventus.
He joins a list of former stars to have joined the A-League late into their career that includes the likes of Robbie Fowler, Romario, Juninho and Dwight Yorke.
