Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Filipino goalkeeper Alphonse Areola joins La Liga club Villareal FC on loan from his parent club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for the 2015-16 season.
The highly rated 22-year-old goalkeeper spent the last season with Ligue 1 club Bastia, where he kept 11 clean sheets in 35 league appearances.
Villareal FC finished their 2014-15 season in La Liga in sixth place and qualified for a place in the Europa League.
Areola was is expected reinforce Villareal after first choice keeper, Sergio Asenjo, ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in a 1-0 defeat against Athletico Madrid.
Asenjo is expected to be sidelined for seven months.
In international competitions, Areola has represented France at the youth levels and was a key part of the French 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup triumph, saving two penalties in the penalty shootout in the finals.
Areola is eligible for the Philippine national team due to both his parents being of Filipino heritage, but is also available for selection for the senior French team.
The up-and-coming keeper has yet to declare for which country he will play for at the senior level.
