Barca Splash €40 million on Brazil Wonderkid Arthur

Barca Splash €40 million on Brazil Wonderkid Arthur

Barcelona have completed the €40 million signing of Gremio midfielder Arthur, according to Spanish media.

Arthur, 21, is however set to officially join the club after next season despite putting pen to paper on the deal earlier this week.

The Catalans will pay €30m up front for the midfielder, with another €10m potentially due in add-ons.

Arthur, the star of Gremio’s Copa Libertadores triumph of 2017, was photographed wearing the Blaugrana’s shirt in a meeting with Barca sporting director Robert Fernandez back in December following months of speculation he was about to switch to the Camp Nou.

Earlier this week, Gremio president Romildo Bolzan confirmed that the deal for the mercurial midfielder would be done imminently.

“The topic is on its way to being finished,” Bolzan told reporters. “The documents are not signed yet, but the transfer is reaching the final phase.

“I think it will be over by tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.

“Some things still depend on legal issues. It still requires some care. It is heading towards a final situation tomorrow, I believe.”

Arthur joins a long list of Brazil stars to feature for the Catalans, and he’s been hailed as the long-term replacement for maestro Andres Iniesta.

He’ll be playing alongside compatriot Philippe Coutinho who completed a €142m move to the Camp Nou from Liverpool in January.