Barcelona Completes Signing Of Junior Firpo For €18m From Real Betis

Barcelona have announced an agreement has been reached with Real Betis for Junior Firpo on a deal worth an initial €18m, with the left back signing a five-year deal at the Catalan club.

The Spanish champions have included a €200m release clause into their new star's contract, as a deal has been reached after weeks of negotiations between the two Spanish clubs.

It is reported that the agreed fee is €18m upfront, while the overall payment to Betis could reach €25m with performances related add-ons.

The 22-year-old will act as a backup to Jordi Alba, with the intention of eventually becoming the Spaniard's long-term replacement. Having burst onto the scene with the Spanish Under-21 side during the summer, Barça had been keen to add the Dominican Republic-born defender to their ranks, confirming the deal on their â€‹official website.

A statement read: "His height, speed and precision make him one of the most promising left-backs in European football. One of the young talents that shone brightest during the past year in the league, Junior is a real handful for rival defences.