Dan Carter will become rugby's highest-paid player when he joins French Top 14 club Racing Métro after next year's World Cup.

The All Blacks and Crusaders flyhalf has signed a three-year deal at the club, where he is reportedly set to earn $2.2 million a year, even though Racing recently acquired French playmaker Remi Tales and already have Johan Goosen on their books. Current pivot, Jonathan Sexton, will return to Leinster following the World Cup in 2015.

Carter will be 33 years old by the time he makes the move abroad and, with a slew of injuries in recent seasons, his signing represents something of a risk for the French club. He previously turned out for Perpignan in 2008, however, a ruptured Achilles tendon cut that venture short.

'It's going to be an awesome adventure for me and my family. Having visited France many times, including my time with Perpignan, I know what the French culture and their rugby culture is like and it's something I really love,' said Carter following the announcement on Thursday.

'Having said that, it's the immediate future that is exciting me at the moment. 2015 is going to be a big year and I'm looking forward to getting into it, firstly with the Crusaders and then hopefully with the All Blacks.

'My body is feeling really good, I'm training really hard and getting some good conditioning in so I can hit the ground running next year. I'm looking forward to getting out and playing some good footy.'

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