Arsenal legend Aaron Ramsey completes emotional return to Cardiff after having contract RIPPED UP by Nice
ARSENAL legend Aaron Ramsey has rejoined boyhood club Cardiff after his Nice contract was ripped up.
The Wales star, 32, spent the past year playing for the French club with Ramsey's deal set to expire this summer.
But after making 34 appearances in all competitions, he triggered an automatic clause to extend it until 2024.
Ramsey is keen to return home with Cardiff, where he made his pro debut as a 16-year-old in 2007.
SunSport revealed he has already turned down an offer to play in Saudi Arabia.
And Nice have now confirmed they have released Ramsey from his deal, setting him up to join the Championship Welsh side on a free transfer.
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Upon his return, Ramsey - who has also seen his eldest son Sonny join Cardiff's Academy - said: "It feels unbelievable to finally be back here.
"I always thought one day I’d come back, and now it’s the perfect time to do that.
“To be back with my family and around familiar faces is just brilliant, so I’m delighted to be back here now. I’ve missed that a lot in the last year or so, so it was important for me to be back around them.
“Obviously I’m a Cardiff City fan, and watching them over the years since I’ve been away, we’ve had some low points but some big highs as well, being in the Premier League and representing Cardiff on the big stage.
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"That’s a target of mine - to try and help my teammates and this club to get back to the top.
“I’ve said it many times in the past - I owe so much to Cardiff, to the fans, to everybody who has been at the Club when I was here as a young boy coming through.
“For me now to come full circle, to be part of this team now, and hopefully achieve the goals we want, there’s no better feeling than that.”
After his release a statement from Nice read: "OGC Nice and Aaron Ramsey have decided by mutual agreement to terminate the contract that bound them.
"The club thanks him and wishes him the best for the rest of his career."
Ramsey also thanked Nice for their support, bidding farewell to fans in an emotional statement.
He said: "Before I start my new chapter I have to say a huge thank you to Nice and all of the brilliant people I have had the pleasure of getting to know.
"There is so much potential in the club and I hope it goes from strength to strength."
Following his debut in 2007, Ramsey played 22 times for Cardiff before joining Arsenal the following year.
After loans at Nottingham Forest and Cardiff, Ramsey went on to score 64 goals in 369 games for Arsenal - winning three FA Cups in the process.
He then secured a free transfer to Juventus in 2019 and scored six goals in 70 games for the Italians.
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Ramsey later spent the second half of the 2021/22 season on loan at Rangers, scoring twice in 13 appearances.
And last term saw the playmaker score once in 34 games for Nice.
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