Barcelona have announced the signing of French defender Jérémy Mathieu from fellow La Liga club Valencia. The 30-year-old veteran has set Barça back €20 million, with a buyout clause in his contract set at €50 million. He has put pen to paper on a four-year deal, with an optional fifth season included.
Barcelona complete Jérémy Mathieu transfer
The 30-year-old has signed a four-year deal at Camp Nou.
Manuel Queimadelos Alonso
Mathieu's move to Barcelona has been a fairly drawn out one, with the player himself having written an open letter to Valencia's supporters after handing in a transfer request. In it, he acknowledged the significance of Barça's interest:
“I don’t hide that for me this is a gigantic step forward in all aspects, and it’s a reward to all the work and effort I’ve put in, and it’s an unique opportunity that I think every footballer would like to have.”
What type of defender is Mathieu? A versatile one. He was largely considered a left-back until relatively recently, when he's established himself as a strong centre-back. It's here where Barça were badly in need of reinforcement after the departure of long-serving captain Carles Puyol, and it's here where we can expect Mathieu to play most often.
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