Barcelona have signed Thomas Vermaelen from Arsenal, beating out Manchester United for the Belgian's signature. The transfer fee is for a reported €18 million and Vermaelen will sign a five-year contract with the Catalan club.
Barcelona sign Thomas Vermaelen from Arsenal
Thomas Vermaelen is Barcelona’s latest recruit in defense.
Michael Regan
Vermaelen has been rumored to be on the move for most of the summer. Originally, it looked like Manchester United would sign the 28-year-old, but they pulled out in recent days, leaving Barcelona as the clear destination.
Barcelona have been looking to upgrade their defense all summer, first signing 30-year-old Jeremy Mathieu, and now adding Vermaelen. While Carles Puyol has been injured for a couple years, Barcelona never moved to sign another experienced centerback to play in his absence, but after Puyol retired this summer, they didn’t have a choice. They had to strengthen the center of defense and have done so, although their choices to do so are curious. They signed a pair of older players, and as a result, will be on the hunt for more central defenders before long.
Vermaelen’s departure will hurt Arsenal, but he saw his role diminish last season and he always seemed destined to leave. With clubs like Barcelona and Manchester United calling, the Belgian was going to want to move, and the Gunners pocketed a nice sum of money for a 28-year-old, so Arsenal made out well in the deal.
Arsenal are now left with Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny as the only established centerback options on the team. Calum Chambers is another option, but Arsene Wenger has said that he sees the 19-year-old as a midfielder. Wenger has said for weeks that if Vermaelen is sold, the Gunners would have to go out and buy another centerback, and now that is exactly what they will have to do.
