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World champion Olga Carmona signs for PSG women's team / Photo: Adrian Dennis - AFP/File
World champion Olga Carmona signs for PSG women's team
Spanish World Cup winner Olga Carmona said she is ready to step up another level with Paris Saint-Germain after signing with the French club for three seasons on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old left-back arrives in the French capital after five years with Real Madrid, having started her footballing career at her hometown club Sevilla in 2017.
"I'm very excited and motivated by this new challenge, the idea of joining a big club," Carmona told AFP.
"It was the moment to leave my comfort zone to continue to grow as a player and as a person.
"When I arrived (at Real Madrid) I was a young girl and I leave a woman.
"I dared to take up this challenge and I am very happy about it. I think that we can do a lot of great things, I'm here to win."
Carmona scored the winning goal in Spain's 2023 World Cup final victory over England in Sydney.
Despite other tempting offers, PSG was a dream move for the former Real captain.
"Paris is a city that I've always loved. I've already played here and found it very cold," she laughed, "but this club has always attracted me.
"Since the start they showed genuine interest and affection for me. I think it's important to feel that they really wanted me from the first contact and finally I decided to come here.
"From the moment that I decided to leave Madrid, I wanted to learn about another culture, another country and language.
"Now I have to learn French but I've already learned a bit in school. I'll do my best to adapt as quickly as possible and bring a lot to the team."
By joining the Premiere Ligue, Carmona knows she will have to compete with Lyon, who have won 18 of the last 19 French league titles.
PSG lifted their only title in 2021.
"Lyon is one of the best clubs in Europe," the Spaniard said.
"But that's precisely the challenge. There's a great project, a great team to compete with Lyon and try to win titles."
At PSG, she will notably be reunited with English goalkeeper Mary Earps whom she beat to score the winning goal in the World Cup final.
Carmona also won the Nations League last year with Spain and is preparing to play at Euro 2025 in Switzerland next month.
P.Graham--SMC
