Barcelona confirms signing Vermaelen

FC Barcelona has confirmed signing Belgian international defender Thomas Vermaelen from Arsenal.

The club said Saturday they have signed the 28-year-old former Arsenal and Ajax central defender with a five-year-contract. It is believed his move will cost Barcelona around 19 million euros ($25 million), reported Xinhua.

Vermaelen will be officially presented to the press and fans Sunday and is the second central defender to join Barca over the summer, following Frenchman Jeremy Matthieu who joined last month for a similar transfer fee from Valencia.

The arrival of Vermaelen and Matthieu will increase the competition for places in the back four, which was one of Barca's weak points last season, and will allow Javier Mascherano to move forward into his preferred central midfield role.