Barcelona have signed Defender Jeremy Mathieu from Valencia on a four year deal for a fee of £15.8m.
The Frenchman, who has won two international caps and can be fielded as a left-back or centre-back, becomes the Catalan giants’ fifth major signing of the summer.
“Jérémy Mathieu will sign a contract with FC Barcelona for the next four seasons, plus an optional season more,” read the club’s statement.
“The cost of the transfer is 20 million Euros and the buyout clause will be 50 million Euros.”
Barcelona lost veteran defender Carles Puyol at the end of last season following the Spaniard’s retirement and Mathieu is expected to fill the vacuum left by their former skipper’s departure in the defence.
Mathieu, 30, made 126 league appearances for Valencia since 2009 scoring six goals.
Barcelona, under new boss Luis Enrique, have signed goalkeepers Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and Claudio Bravo, midfielder Ivan Rakitic and striker Luis Suarez.
