Arsenal legend Aaron Ramsey refused huge contract from Saudi to complete emotional return to Cardiff with son after having REMOVED 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.

Aaron Ramsey has confirmed his return to Cardiff

He has not been at the club since a loan move in 2011

He said he was ‘delighted to be back now

The Arsenal icon’s eldest son, Sonny, has also joined the club’s academy

Ramsey left Nice after having his contract ripped up

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.

He has already declined a request to play in Saudi Arabia, according to SunSport.

And Nice has now confirmed that they have freed Ramsey from his contract, allowing him to sign with the Welsh Championship club for free.

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.

“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.

Ramsey scored 64 goals in 369 games for Arsenal, scoring on loans to Nottingham Forest and Cardiff along the way, winning three FA Cups.

After that, he obtained a free transfer to Juventus in 2019, where he scored six goals in 70 games.

Later, Ramsey scored twice in 13 appearances while on loan at Rangers during the second half of the 2021/22 season.

And during the previous season, Nice’s playmaker scored just once in 34 games.