MLS side Charlotte FC have been beat to the signing of Aaron Ramsey, as the Welsh international has elected to join Nice in Ligue 1.

Charlotte, playing their first season in MLS, are understood to have offered Ramsey a two-year deal that would have made him the highest paid player at the club, as Sportsmail reported last week.

Ramsey however seems to have snubbed the chance to join his countryman Gareth Bale in MLS after terminating his contract with Juventus.

Aaron Ramsey called time on a disappointing spell in Italy last week, ending his Juve contract

The midfielder spent last season on loan with Rangers, where he started just five league matches and missed a crucial penalty in the Europa League final shootout vs. Frankfurt. 

After that, as Sportsmail revealed, Ramsey held talks with Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri after finding himself surplus to requirements.

Ramsey will now join up with a Nice outfit which finished fifth in Ligue 1 last year and will compete in the Europa Conference League. 

After a spotty record of playing time at Juventus, the Wales talisman should be able to get the run of games he craves ahead of the World Cup – his country’s first since 1958.

Charlotte meanwhile has been competitive in their maiden season, with eight wins and two draws from 22 matches. They are 10th in the Eastern Conference (out of 14 teams) and just three points away from the last playoff spot.

Ramsey has battled with injuries throughout his career, including last season with Rangers

With Ramsey opting for a move to France, the club still has room for one more Designated Player – the term for expensive, often-splashy signings that fall outside of the team’s salary cap. Charlotte may now pivot to other options to strengthen their team.

 ‘We’re looking to add an attacking midfielder as a third DP, that’s our aim,’ sporting director Zoran Krneta told reporters in May. 

‘But it’s something we’re careful about how we go about. We have targets, we’re talking to targets.’

Upon the completion of his Nice move, Ramsey looks to set to join up with Leicester City goalie Kasper Schmeichel, who will undergo a medical for the club later this week.