Spanish World Cup winning footballer, Cesc Fabregas, 24, has today completed a transfer from Arsenal F.C. of the Barclays Premier League, to F.C. Barcelona, of the Spanish Primera Division, the current holders of the UEFA Champions League.
Fabregas has signed a five year contract with the Catalan giants, after passing two medicals, following agreement on a deal believed to be worth IRO £35 million, depending on appearances.
The move will bring Fabregas together with Xavi, Iniesta and Lionel Messi to make up perhaps the most fearsome midfield four in world football.
Fabregas had been at Arsenal since the age of 16, the English club to which he originally transferred from Barcelona in 2003.
Fabregas played 303 matches for the Gunners, during which he scored 57 goals, and was promoted to club captain.
But Barca wanted their man back, after eight years at the top of English football, and first made a formal offer for the player in June 2010, which Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger managed to repel.
When the offer was tabled in the summer of 2011, however, with four years remaining on Fabregas’ contract, the player, who made it clear he wanted to return to his childhood club, was eventually let go for a fee of £30 million – with an additional £5 million to be added based on appearances – in a deal announced at half time of the el Classico cup tie with Real Madrid on Sunday.
Fabregas passed his two medical examinations on Monday morning before the Catalan club announced the deal had concluded: Cesc Fabregas is now a Barcelona player, having put pen to paper on a four year contract.
