(CNN) Tom Brady is officially a Tampa Bay Buccaneers player as the free agency quarterback signed a multi-year contract, the NFL team announced Friday.

The 42-year-old is widely considered the greatest quarterback of all time and and had spent his entire NFL career -- 20 seasons -- with the New England Patriots, winning six of the nine Super Bowls he reached.

Tampa was one of the teams Brady was connected with after he announced his departure from the Patriots on Tuesday.

"Tom is a proven champion who has achieved greatness on the field because he demands the best out of himself and his teammates," said Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht in a statement.

"I've known Tom since we drafted him in New England 20 years ago and through this process it became very clear that his desire to be a champion burns as strong today as it ever has.

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