David Beckham Gives PSG Salary To Charity

David Beckham will not receive a salary after signing a contract with Paris St Germain, but will instead see his wages paid to a children's charity.

As the former England captain was unveiled by the French Ligue 1 club at a news conference, he described the five-month deal as "unique".

"I won't receive any salary - we have decided my salary will go towards a local children's charity in Paris and that is one of the things we are very excited and proud to do," he said.

It was not immediately clear how much the as yet unidentified charity would receive, but Beckham said it would be a "huge sum".

The 37-year-old acknowledged that his French was poor and he would have to "brush up".

"I haven't spoken French for quite a few years, since I was at school so that is definitely a few years," he said.

When challenged to say something in French, he said simply: "Bonjour."

His wife Victoria will live in the UK during the five-month contract because of their children's schooling, he added.

Earlier, Beckham posted a picture of himself on a plane on his Facebook page and wrote: "On way to Paris, excited. I will update you all later."

Beckham left LA Galaxy in December after a six-year stint in America's Major League Soccer and is understood to have had a number of lucrative offers from around the world.

In recent days he has been training with Arsenal, but manager Arsene Wenger ruled out signing the former Manchester United midfielder, saying he "doesn't look at all to be in shape".

But during the news conference in Paris, Beckham said his fitness "won't take long to get up to speed".

Beckham, who played a record 115 outfield games for England, left Old Trafford for Real Madrid in 2003 before moving to the Galaxy in August 2007.

While he was in Los Angeles he had two stints on loan with Italian giants AC Milan.

Beckham said Carlo Ancelotti, who was in charge of Milan during Beckham's time there and is now manager at PSG, was one of the reasons he had been lured to the French capital.

"Carlo is one of the best managers I have played for. So It is exciting on a number of levels," he explained.

He added that he chose not to return to the Premier League because he would not play for any English club other than Manchester United.

Club president Nasser Al-Khela?said: "I am sure he will add big value to the club.

"I am sure we are going to win a lot of things with David and I am very happy to be sat here next to David to welcome him to PSG."

Beckham will be hoping to add the Ligue 1 title to his other three league successes in England, Spain and the US when he joins the big-spending club.

PSG's Qatari owners have invested more than £300m in players since buying the club in 2011.

Beckham, however, will be brought in on a free transfer as he is currently a free agent.

Meanwhile British clubs were involved in frenzied speculation as the January transfer window closed on Thursday night.

At 7:30pm, a total of £106,700,000 had been spent so far in the window.

Among the big signings included defender Christopher Samba's £12.5m transfer from Anzhi Makhachkala to Queen's Park Rangers and striker Danny Graham's £5m move from Swansea City to Sunderland.