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| Barça sign Andre Gomes from Valencia |
FC Barcelona have announced the signing of Portuguese midfielder Andre Gomes from Valencia after both parties reached an agreement for the player to join the club.
The Catalan club took to their official website to announce the successful acquisition of the 22-year old playmaker with the contract set to be officially signed next week before the player’s official presentation as the club’s new player.
Details of the transfer is yet to be made official by the club but it is perceived that Andre Gomes will sign a 5-year deal that will see him be a Blaugrana until the summer of 2021. Barça reportedly paid a fee of around €35 million for him which could increase by €20 million in variables.
Andre Gomes has been one of the main priority of technical secretary Robert Fernandez as Barça look to improve their midfield for the upcoming season. The player, who won the European Championship with Portugal, rejected a €53 million bid from Chelsea. He was a prime target of Real Madrid but decided to join the best club in the world, FC Barcelona, just at the last minute.
Following the arrivals of Denis Suarez, Samuel Umtiti and Lucas Digne, Andre Gomes will become FC Barcelona’s fourth official signing of the summer as the club want to enter 2016/2017 with full force.
Reports also suggest the likes of Cristian Tello and Martin Montoya may be included in the deal that will see Andre Gomes arrive at Camp Nou.
Andre Gomes went through the ranks in Portugal playing his youth football with Porto and then with Benfica. He was then promoted to the Benfica first team before moving to Valencia on loan in 2014. The Spanish club tied him on a permanent deal the next season where he has grown to become one of the best young midfielders in the world.
Gomes was one of the most sought-after players of the transfer window with big clubs like Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester United showing strong interests in him. He decided to join FC Barcelona despite knowing he’ll face heavy competition in midfield.