Soccer:David Villa will be unveiled as a Barcelona player on Friday afternoon after completing a €40 million euro transfer from Valencia. The Spain international has long been linked with a move after five seasons at the Mestalla and has signed a four-year deal.
Villa, who will undergo a medical on Friday, is the first summer capture for the Catalan club, with Cesc Fabregas also rumoured to be keen on a move back to Barcelona.
A statement on Barcelona’s official website, www.fcbarcelona.cat, read: “FC Barcelona and Valencia CF closed a €40 million deal for Spanish striker David Villa on Wednesday morning.
“The Spanish international is due in Barcelona on Thursday evening and will have a medical on Friday morning.”
After a board meeting at Valencia in the morning, their president Manuel Llorente said they had accepted Barca's offer.
"We have sold David Villa to Barcelona for €40 million," he told a news conference at the Mestalla. "As everyone knows we could have done this deal last year but we thought at that moment it was best to keep our squad together to try and get into the Champions League.
"We have achieved that aim and finished third in the league, and he has contributed a lot towards this. We think it is good sale and necessary for the economic situation of the club."
The 28-year-old scored 107 goals in 166 league matches for Valencia after establishing himself with Real Zaragoza. He is a regular in Spain’s first-team and was a member of the Euro 2008-winning squad.
Villa’s arrival is likely to lead to increased speculation over the futures of Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Outgoing president Joan Laporta yesterday claimed the club were “satisfied” with the 21-goal contribution of Ibrahimovic in his first season since arriving from Inter Milan last summer.
Henry appears on the verge of a move to Major League Soccer, with Laporta also revealing there was “a lot of interest” in the France forward from the United States.
David Villa
1981:Born December 3rd, Langreo, Spain.
2000:Starts professional career at Sporting de Gijon and scores 50 goals in three seasons.
2003:Joins Real Zaragoza and wins Copa del Rey in his first season, scoring a penalty in the final against Real Madrid.
2005:Makes his international debut for Spain in Almeria in a 5-0 win over San Marino. Moves to Valencia for a reported €15 million.
2006:Scores 25 goals in 35 Primera Division games for Valencia during 2005/06 season to finish one goal behind the league's top scorer, Samuel Eto'o of Barcelona. Travels with Spain to World Cup in Germany and scores in their opening match against Ukraine. Puts Spain 1-0 ahead against France in last 16 but Les Bleus hit back to win 3-1.
2008:Wins his first trophy with Valencia — the Copa del Rey — with 3-1 win over Getafe in final.
2008:Scores six goals in Spain's triumphant Euro 2008 campaign to finish the top scorer in the competition despite missing the 1-0 win over Germany in the final due to injury. Signs new six-year contract with Valencia.
2009:Scores 28 goals in 33 La Liga games in 2008/09. Linked with clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea, but claims he would be happy to see out his career with Valencia, saying: "I had the desire to remain here and I want to spend all my sporting career here."
2010:Barcelona confirm they have agreed fee of €40 million with Valencia for Villa, who will move to Nou Camp on four-year contract subject to a medical.