Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal has confirmed to RTÉ Sport that Paul O’Connell has signed a two-year deal with the French club.

O’Connell, who turns 36 in October, immediately after the quarter-final stage of the Rugby World Cup, was in Toulon ahead of the French transfer deadline at midnight.

Earlier, a report in a French newspaper had cast doubt on the Ireland captain's mooted move to to the Champions Cup winners, saying the club had concerns over an old shoulder injury and might now delay signing the Ireland captain until after the World Cup.

But, speaking to RTÉ Sport on Monday evening, Boudjellal confirmed that the deal has been done and the Munster legend, holder of 101 Test caps, will play in France for the next two seasons.

Ireland's oldest captain of all time will offset the loss of World Cup-winning locks Bakkies Botha and Ali Williams, who both retired at the end of the current campaign.

Irish rugby and Munster chiefs last month agreed to release O'Connell from the remainder of his dual contract, that was set to run until June 2016, paving the way for his new challenge in France.

O'Connell's final appearance for Munster was the Pro12 final defeat to Glasgow at Ravenhill in May.

O'Connell made his Munster debut in 2001, progressing to claim two European Cup titles and three Celtic League crowns.

The evergreen lineout boss has spearheaded Ireland's drive to successive Six Nations titles under the stewardship of taskmaster coach Joe Schmidt, and it is that relentless drive and tactical acumen that has led Toulon to complete his recruitment.