Barcelona have confirmed they have completed the signing of Atletico Madrid midfielder Arda Turan on Monday.
The Turkish international had already expressed his desire to leave the Spanish capital club in the summer transfer window. This had alerted the Premier League duo Manchester United and Chelsea.
According to the London Evening Standard, both United and Chelsea were interested in signing Turan. However, he snubbed a chance to join either of the clubs and agreed a deal to join the Champions League winners.
Turan signed a five-year deal with the treble winners on Monday, and his move to Camp Nou will cost the Catalan club €34m with a possible €7m in variables. They have a right to re-sell the player back to Atletico on 20 July.
Barça sign Arda Turan on five year deal from Atlético http://t.co/Vtw5UesUND pic.twitter.com/mlzePYtdDe
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 7, 2015
“FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid have reached an agreement for the transfer of the player Arda Turan. FC Barcelona reserve the right to re-sell the player to Atlético until 20 July,” a statement on Barcelona’s official website read.
“With the intention of safeguarding the Club’s interests and respecting the final decision of the President elect and given the necessity of finalising the operation as soon as possible in order not to miss out on signing the player, FC Barcelona have reached an agreement with Atlético Madrid for the signing of Arda Turan for the next five seasons for the figure of €34m with a possible €7m in variables.”
“The agreement includes the option of selling the player to Atlético Madrid for the fixed fee less 10% option costs. This option could be exercised by FC Barcelona up until midnight of 20 July if the next Board of Directors should wish so. This agreement has been ratified unanimously by the Managing Committee,” it added.
Turan cannot play for Barcelona until January 2016 due to the transfer ban imposed by the sport’s governing body FIFA.
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