With the Champions League reaching the business end of the campaign and with lynchpin Thiago Motta still struggling for fitness, Unai Emery has been on the lookout for a defensive midfielder.

Lass comes home

And on Tuesday, he got his man: France international Lassana Diarra (34 caps). The 32-year-old, who was a free agent after terminating his contract with UEA club Al Jazira put pen to paper on an 18-month deal that links him to the capital through to June 2019.

"I am very happy to have signed for my home-town club," declared Paris-region native Diarra after signing his contract on Tuesday. "Paris Saint-Germain represents a lot to me and, with the international dimension the club has taken in recent seasons, it is every player's dream to play here. I am lucky enough to make this dream come true, to know what it feels like to play at the Parc des Princes wearing the Rouge et Bleu. I intend to do everything I can, bring all my experience and show all my desire to play, to prove that the club has made the right choice in showing its confidence in me."

Crunch time

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi was thrilled to welcome the experienced Parisian to his club as an important double header against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 looms.

"We are delighted to welcome Lassana Diarra, a quality footballer, to Paris Saint-Germain," declared the club CEO, who has famously high hopes for his side in European competition. "His vast experience, both of foreign leagues and the international football with the France national team, gives our coaching staff another option as we enter a very exciting second half of the season. Our fans at the Parc des Princes really love players that hail from the Paris region. I know they will give him a warm welcome and the strength to help our team reach its objectives."