Borussia Dortmund have completed the signing of Barcelona’s centre back Marc Bartra for £6.2 million, both the clubs have announced.
Bartra joins the Bundesliga runner-ups on a four-year deal, although a buy-back option is expected to be involved in the player’s contract.
The 25-year-old made only 13 league appearances for the Catalan club last season, which dropped the player’s release clause from £31 million to just £6.2 million and now it appears that Dortmund have activated the clause by offering the required transfer fee.
Bartra, who worked his way through the Barcelona’s esteemed youth academy La Masia, has played over 100 matches for the La Liga giants but failed to establish himself as a regular starter in his six years with the first team.
The Spanish defender has been at the Nou Camp since the age of 12 and leaves the club with plenty of honors to his name having won five league titles, two Champions Leagues, two Copa del Rey, two European Super Cups and one Club World Cup.
A statement from Barcelona’s website said: “FC Barcelona wish Marc Bartra all the best in his new phase of his career as a player and he will be invited to say goodbye to the fans personally at the start of next season.”
Bartra is expected to get into Dortmund’s starting line-up straight away next season as a direct replacement for German defender Mats Hummels, who has joined club’s arch rivals Bayern Munich this summer.
Dortmund have already completed the signing of highly-rated French striker Ousmane Dembele from French outfit Rennes for an undisclosed fee.
Meanwhile, Barcelona are set to trigger Villarreal midfielder Denis Suarez’s release clause of 3.25 million euros in a buy-back option to bring the 22-year-old back to the Catalan club, having already announced the departure of long-serving Brazilian full back Dani Alves this summer.
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