Arsenal’s captain, Thomas Vermaelen, has joined Barcelona for £15 million, after the North London club refused to sell him to Premier League rivals, Manchester United.
The Belgian defender has signed a five year deal with the Spanish giants, believed to be worth around £80,000 a week.
Vermaelen had been at Arsenal for five years, and captain for the past two seasons, but found himself spending most of last season on the bench behind Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker.
“FC Barcelona and Arsenal FC have reached an agreement for the transfer of the Belgian player, who will sign for the next five seasons,” the Blaugrana revealed on their website.
Arsenal also confirmed the deal on their official site.
“Thomas Vermaelen has agreed to join Barcelona in a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee,” a statement read, adding: “Vermaelen passed his medical in Barcelona on Saturday. His transfer is subject to the completion of the normal regulatory process. Everyone at Arsenal would like to thank Thomas for his contribution during his time at the club and wish him well for the future.”
The 28-year-old has been blighted by injuries over the last few seasons and was given a thorough, two-part examination by Barca at the Hospital de Barcelona and later at the Clinica de la Creu Blanca on Saturday morning.
However, the Belgian came through the tests without any problems and is the second centre-back to join the Catalan club this summer, after Jeremy Mathieu arrived from Valencia in a €20 million deal last month.
The defender, who becomes the third Arsenal captain to join Barca in seven years (after Thierry Henry in 2007 and Cesc Fabregas in 2011), will be unveiled at Camp Nou on Sunday.
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