Reigning Spanish champions Barcelona have completed the transfer of prolific hitman David Villa from fellow La Liga outfit Valencia for a fee of €40 million, according to the Catalan club's official website.

The striker will sign a four-year deal at his new club, with an option for a fifth, upon the successful completion of a medical on Friday morning.

Long Time Coming

The Spanish international was continually being linked with a move away from Valencia in the past couple of weeks and a transfer only appeared to be a matter of time when Barcelona president Joan Laporta confirmed earlier this week that negotiations between Barcelona and Valencia were ongoing.

Both parties have now reached an agreement about the transfer of the highly rated attacker, as Valencia confirmed on their official website on Wednesday, and Villa will ply his trade at Barcelona next term.

Pedigree

Villa joined Valencia from Real Zaragoza in the summer of 2005 and has since developed into one of the best strikers around in the Primera Division. The 28-year-old has so far scored 109 league goals in 166 appearances.

Repercussions

The arrival of Villa could very well mean the end of Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the Catalan powerhouse. The former Inter star has failed to find his best form at Barcelona since joining the club last summer and has been linked with a move away from the Spanish champions more than once in the past couple of weeks.

On Form

Villa has been in superb form all season and currently sits sixth in the Castrol Rankings.

This season in La Liga Villa hit 21 goals in 31 starts and one substitute appearance. This, while being a far cry from his 28 in 33 the previous year, still renders him the fourth-highest goalscorer in Spain in 2009-10.

Furthermore Villa is a seasoned international, picking up 36 goals in 55 caps over the past five seasons. He is likely to overtake Raul as Spain's top goalscorer of all time in the coming years.


Thus much is expected of 'El Guaje' at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where he is coach Vicente del Bosque's preferred option to lead the forward line.

Villa is due to arrive on Barcelona on Thursday evening. He will doubtless be exposed to the local media before resting in anticipation of his Friday morning medical. Should all be well at this test his presentation will take place at Camp Nou at 13:30 local time.

Source:goal.com

It makes me sick.

But as a manager of an opposing team, if Barca throw serious money+players your way..and your own player is biting at the leash to be set free...there's not much you can do.

I don't think Barça need to sell Ibra. They could easily play with Messi and Villa on the wings and Ibra as centre forward.

Also, what's the point in signing Fabregas? They already have Xavi and Iniesta who are much better than him, unless they're opting for a Xavi-Fabregas-Iniesta midfield which would be suicide.

I don't think Barça need to sell Ibra. They could easily play with Messi and Villa on the wings and Ibra as centre forward.

Also, what's the point in signing Fabregas? They already have Xavi and Iniesta who are much better than him, unless they're opting for a Xavi-Fabregas-Iniesta midfield which would be suicide.

I don't think Barça need to sell Ibra. They could easily play with Messi and Villa on the wings and Ibra as centre forward.

Pedro would be better than Villa in the wing.

Attack!

Not in my opinion. They bought Villa to sell Ibra or to move him in the left ( wich I dont truly believe). They think Ibra is impotent in front of the goal (wich I dont agree). Pedro would be better than Ibro or Villa in the wing.

No, Villa will be the centre striker and no way a winger for them. That front three is never going to work, because:

Not in my opinion. They bought Villa to sell Ibra or to move him in the left ( wich I dont truly believe). They think Ibra is impotent in front of the goal (wich I dont agree). Pedro would be better than Ibro or Villa in the wing.

typical of them? What do you mean chu?

Al Ahli have confirmed the signing of Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro on a two-year deal.

Cannavaro, 36, captained Italy to World Cup glory in 2006 and was named FIFA World Player of the Year, and he returned to Juventus last summer after a three-year stint with Real Madrid.

However, Juve decided against extending his contract after a disappointing season and, having failed to win a contract with hometown club Napoli, he has now opted to join defending UAE League champions Al Ahli.

"We announce that we have signed 2006 FIFA World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro for two years," Abdullah Al Nabooda, chairman of Al Ahli's board of directors, told the club's official website.

"This deal with a player like Cannavaro is one of the most important deals for us because he's a player with great experience and talent, while he's also a leader on the field as he led Italy to win the 2006 FIFA World Cup title."

Cannavaro says he is delighted to have the chance to finish his career in the Middle East.

"I'm happy to sign for Al Ahli," he said. "I always thought of moving to live in Dubai as I love it and I have achieved my dream by moving to Dubai and play for one of its big clubs like Al Ahli."

Cannavaro, who has 132 caps for his country, will lead Italy in South Africa this summer before retiring from international duty.

There's a reason Lippi's been experimenting - (experiment details courtesy of gazzetta dello sport) with a wonky hybrid defense of Zambrotta - Cannavaro - Bonucci - Chiellini. The thought is that Zambro, or whoever else goes out on the right, will move up more and there'll be 3 cbs on the back line.

There's a reason Lippi's been experimenting - (experiment details courtesy of gazzetta dello sport) with a wonky hybrid defense of Zambrotta - Cannavaro - Bonucci - Chiellini. The thought is that Zambro, or whoever else goes out on the right, will move up more and there'll be 3 cbs on the back line.

Which isn't right at all, players have too much power in football. They sign a contract for their security then claim they're being treated like slaves when they don't get the move they want.

I hate to say it but the States are way in front of us on this. A free agent/trade market is the way to go, it gives more power to smaller teams and makes money far less relevant, even more so if you have a cap.

And yet he's going to play in the World Cup....I'm scared.

CHU-LIP, your country's NT played a friendly today. It's going to be shown on tape delay tonight here. Should I watch? Who for the Oranje is looking good?

There's a reason Lippi's been experimenting - (experiment details courtesy of gazzetta dello sport) with a wonky hybrid defense of Zambrotta - Cannavaro - Bonucci - Chiellini. The thought is that Zambro, or whoever else goes out on the right, will move up more and there'll be 3 cbs on the back line.

Chiellini as LB? That would be a total waste.

Juventus are to sign Pepe from Udinese for 12m, Motta from Roma for 7m and buying Candreva entirely for about 7m. What a waste of money. I'd keep only Candreva.

Maybe they just dig Italians?

My point wasn't their nationality, rather the fact they're both crap players by Juve's standards.

Perhaps they're just dumb, CHU-LIP?