Barcelona have completed the £15m signing of Arsenal’s Belgium international defender Thomas Vermaelen on a five-year contract.
The 28-year-old passed a medical on Saturday and was presented to fans and media at the Nou Camp on Sunday after finalising the deal.
“Coming to Barcelona is a dream move – it wasn’t a difficult decision at all,” the centre-back said.
Vermaelen joined Arsenal from Ajax for £10m in 2009 and made 150 appearances.
Barcelona’s new signing said: “I feel ready to play here. I think I can offer a lot to this club.
“There’s a lot of competition here but I’m very excited. It’s up to me to show what I can do – it’ll be a challenge for me.”
Vermaelen had been a target for Manchester United but they ended their interest after refusing Arsenal’s demand to receive a player as part of the deal.
Gunners manager Arsene Wenger confirmed ahead of Sunday’s Community Shield match against Manchester City that he would be looking for a replacement defender.
He told BT Sport: “At the moment it is a possibility that someone comes in to replace Thomas Vermaelen. I can’t tell you who!”
Vermaelen was troubled by a series of injuries and lost his place at centre-back last season as Wenger favoured Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny.
His form and fitness meant he made only 21 appearances in all competitions last term.
Vermaelen added: “I want to put the injuries I’ve had behind me and look to the future. My aim is to play in lots of games and help the team. I am keen to get started and I know the demands here are really testing.”
Vermaelen becomes Barca’s second centre-back signing this summer after Valencia’s Jeremy Mathieu, their first recruit in that position since 2009.
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