A body pulled from the wreckage of a plane carrying Emiliano Sala has been identified as that of the missing Cardiff striker, police have said.

Sala, 28, was the only passenger on the aircraft being flown by British pilot David Ibbotson when it went missing on 21 January.

The wreckage of the plane was discovered on the seabed of the English Channel last week between Guernsey and the Devon coastline.

Dorset Police said the families of Sala and the pilot David Ibbotson have been informed.

In a statement police said they "will continue to be supported by specially-trained family liaison officers.

Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Show all 12 1 /12 Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala Cardiff City striker Emiliano Sala is missing and feared dead after an aeroplane carrying him and one other person went missing over the English Channel AFP/Getty Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala He first moved to France in 2011 before joining Bordeaux and making his debut in 2012 Getty Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala Sala arrived at Bordeaux after playing for Club Proyecto Crecer in Argentina Getty Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala In Ligue 1, Sala found himself going up against some of the best-known defenders such as PSG’s David Luiz Getty Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala He would join Caen on loan in 2015 Getty Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala While with Bordeaux, Sala also spent time on loan with US Orleans and Chamois Niort Getty Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala In 2015, Sala secured a move to Ligue 1 side Nantes EPA Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala Sala played 130 times for Nantes, scoring 48 goals in all competitions AFP/Getty Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala His form in France saw him catch the eye of a number of clubs around Europe AFP Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala Sala was the fifth-highest goalscorer in Ligue 1 this season with 12 goals in 19 games Getty Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala Sala agreed to join Cardiff in a club-record £15m deal on Saturday 19 January Cardiff City Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala Sala’s flight to Cardiff went missing on Monday 21 January and is believed to have crashed into the English Channel Getty

"Our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.

"HM Coroner will continue to investigate the circumstances of this death supported by Dorset Police."

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) announced that the operation to recover the wreckage of the plane would now be abandoned.

They said the recovery was carried out in “as dignified a way as possible” and the men’s families were kept updated throughout.

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But poor weather conditions have hampered efforts to bring the wreckage to the surface and the decision was made today to end the operation.

The Piper Malibu N264DB aircraft was flying from France to Cardiff, after the Argentine striker made a quick trip back to his former club Nantes.