Spanish and European champions Barcelona have completed the signing of Turkey international Arda Turan from Atletico Madrid for a fee in the region of £24million, plus £5million potentially in add-ons.
The 28-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the Catalan giants and has left Los Rojiblancos after four years at the club.
The midfielder, who captains his country and has made 81 international appearances, was a key part of the Atletico team that won La Liga and made it to the Champions League final in season 2013/14. Turan scored 22 goals and collected 32 assists in his time in the Spanish capital.
Turan will be unable to make his debut for the European champions until January due to the club currently being in the midst of a transfer embargo imposed by FIFA.
The deal is a complicated one as Turan could yet end up back at Atletico, as Barcelona are currently be run by an interim committee while the presidential election continues.
Bizarrely once a new president is elected they have the option of selling Turan back to Atletico Madrid at ten per cent lower than Barcelona paid, but only in a two day period following the election.
Turan is Barcelona’s second signing of the summer after they completed a deal earlier this summer to sign versatile Aleix Vidal from Sevilla. He is expected to provide cover for Dani Alves, but also will not be available to make his debut until January.
Will Arda Turan be sold back to Atletico Madrid?
