Thomas Paris has completed his permanent move to Floriana from Birkirkara, the 2010/11 FA Trophy winners announced yesterday.
Paris joined the Greens on loan in January but it had been known for some time that Floriana were keen to retain his services after the 24-year-old established himself as a first-team player during his four-month spell with the club.
“Club president Johann Said and the Floriana FC committee are delighted to announce that an agreement has been reached with Birkirkara for the permanent transfer of Thomas Paris,” the Floriana statement said.
Paris, who has signed a four-year contract, was to join his Floriana team-mates with immediate effect to be part of the team’s preparations for their Europa League second qualifying round commitments against Cyprus’s AEK Larnaca.
“Said is pleased about this latest signing by Floriana and noted that all Maltese players who formed part of the team that won the FA Trophy have joined the club on a permanent basis,” the statement said.
Earlier this week, Floriana finalised the transfer of midfielder Christian Cassar who spent the last two seasons on loan with the Greens from Marsaxlokk.
Said added that the committee will now focus on signing top-quality foreign players to further strengthen the squad ahead of the club’s Europa League matches.
Meanwhile, Tarxien Rainbows have successfully concluded negotiations with Birkirkara over the transfer of Karl Pulo.
Having struggled to hold down a regular place at Birkirkara last season, Pulo will be hoping to get more first-team opportunities at Tarxien who identified the former Pietà winger as the ideal replacement for Gianluca Calabretta who has moved to Ħamrun Spartans. Pulo has signed a three-year deal with the Rainbows.
Sources have told The Times that Tarxien playmaker Sergio is attracting strong interest from Birkirkara.
Sergio has another year left on his contract with Tarxien but the latter are prepared to part company with the Brazilian.