Alicia Keys to perform at UEFA Champions League final

Alicia Keys is to perform at the opening ceremony of next month’s UEFA Champions League final in Milan.

The New York-born singer will form a central part of the revamped pre-game ceremony on May 28, and has revealed she will be debuting music from her brand new album at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Italy prior to the start of the showpiece soccer match.

Alicia said: "I’m extremely excited to share my new music at the UEFA Champions League final, an event that is celebrated in every corner of the world

"This is going to be a powerful moment in history and one that represents the spirit of all the similarities we share no matter where we live and who we are. I’m honored to be a special part of such a beloved experience."

The Champions League final is the most-watched annual sporting event in the world, and Guy-Laurent Epstein, UEFA’s marketing director, said Alicia’s participation will "further the appeal of the match and consequently will reach a broader audience demographic".

The soccer match will be broadcast in more than 220 countries and will reach a TV audience of more than 180 million viewers.