Official: Vermaelen completes Barcelona move

Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen completed his move to Barcelona on Saturday after agreeing a five-year contract with the Catalan giants.

The Belgian international had entered the final year of his contract so the Gunners have decided to cash in rather than risk losing him for nothing next summer.

The 28 year old completed his medical with the Catalan giants yesterday evening and the North London club have also confirmed the signing on their Official website. The transfer fee for the centre back is undisclosed but reports suggest that the fee is £15 million.

Manchester United were strongly linked with a move in recent months but a deal stalled after the Van Gaal refused to allow any players to move in the opposite direction as part of a swap deal.

The Belgian international made a successful move to Arsenal from Dutch side Ajax in 2009, but injuries eventually curtailed his progress. He ended up playing second fiddle to Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny this past season after some poor form in 2012 displaced him permanently from Wenger’s first choice centre back pairing.

It will be a major disappointment to see the skipper leave and we face an anxious wait to see who Wenger brings in as a replacement. But it’s a fresh start for Vermaelen and a chance for him to resurrect his career. We wish him all the best for his future challenges.

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Here are some tweets from Arsenal players wishing him good luck……

Best of luck to @T_Vermaelen05 at Barcelona. Will miss our rounds of golf #mean5iron pic.twitter.com/0I7pq9nsBd
— Aaron Ramsey (@aaronramsey) August 9, 2014

all the best for the future @T_Vermaelen05 #Arsenal #AFC #captain #VermaelenFCB pic.twitter.com/mIK4gI7IyH
— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) August 9, 2014

Good luck captain in Nou Camp! Will remember you as a top guy and our good time together for Arsenal. AHA!! Thomas all the best for u. Poldi
— Lukas-Podolski.com (@Podolski10) August 9, 2014