Barca agree deal for Villa

David Villa will be unveiled as a Barcelona player on Friday afternoon after completing a €40m transfer from Valencia.

The Spain international has long been linked with a move from Los Che after five seasons at the Mestalla and has signed a four-year deal.

Villa, who will undergo a medical on Friday, is the first summer capture for the Catalan club, with Cesc Fabregas also rumoured to be angling for a move back to Barcelona.

A statement on Barcelona's official website, www.fcbarcelona.cat, read: "FC Barcelona and Valencia CF closed a €40m deal for Spanish striker David Villa on Wednesday morning.

“The Spanish international is due in Barcelona on Thursday evening and will have a medical on Friday morning.

“Villa will be officially unveiled as a Barca player at 1.30pm in the Paris Room of the Camp Nou.

“He’ll then make an appearance on the Camp Nou pitch. The stadium doors will be opened to the public.”

The 28-year-old scored 107 goals in 166 league matches for Valencia after establishing himself with Real Zaragoza.

He is a regular in Spain’s first-team and was a member of the Euro 2008-winning squad.

Villa’s arrival is likely to lead to increased speculation over the futures of Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.