Barcelona seal €34m deal for Turkey skipper Arda Turan

Barcelona have signed Turkey captain Arda Turan on a five-year contract from Atletico Madrid for an initial fee of €34 million.

The 28-year-old midfielder was reportedly the target of Premier League champions Chelsea, but instead swaps Atletico for treble-winners Barca.

A statement published on Barca’s website confirmed the agreement between the clubs, although the former Galatasaray player will not be able to play an official game for his new club until January 2016 due to a transfer ban imposed by Fifa for breaching rules over the signings of under-age players.

That ban has not stopped Barca, who won the treble last season, from recruiting Spanish winger Aleix Vidal on a permanent transfer from Sevilla last month.

Arda’s arrival will strengthen Barca’s midfield following the departure of veteran captain Xavi, who has joined Qatari club Al Sadd after 24 years with the Catalan giants.