Barcelona sign Paco Alcacer from Valencia
Barcelona have confirmed the signing of striker Paco Alcacer from Valencia on a five-year contract for a fee worth £27.3m.
The striker passed his medical before signing and will be officially be presented as a Barcelona player after he returns from international duty with Spain.
Alcacer has a 100m Euro (£85m) buy-out clause in his deal with the La Liga champions and will be challenging the likes of Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar for a place up front.
Alcacer told Valencia’s official website: “When I found out about the offer from FC Barcelona I asked the club to listen to it, as it was my decision to take a step forward in my career.”
He added: “I want to thank Valencia CF and the fans. Despite the fact that I am leaving Valencia CF, I will always be a Valencianista at heart.”
[OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT] Barça sign @paco_alcacer on a five year deal https://t.co/JDTWMmdCCO #AlcacerFCB pic.twitter.com/kysRVRDnqB
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 30, 2016
He becomes the club’s sixth signing of the summer following the arrivals of Jasper Cillessen, Andre Gomes, Samuel Umtiti, Lucas Digne and Denis Suarez.
Valencia announced on Tuesday that Munir El-Haddadi has moved in the opposite direction on loan with an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the campaign.
Barca’s priority was to add a striker but they lost out on signing Nolito and Kevin Gameiro, with the former joining Manchester City and the latter Atletico Madrid.
Valencia boss Pako Ayestaran had previously said Alcacer was not for sale and even called him up for Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Eibar, but he eventually left him out of the squad due to concerns over his focus.
Alcacer is a product of the Valencia youth system and has made over 100 appearances for Los Che, scoring 43 goals.
He will link up with his new Barca teammates next week and could make his debut in the league game against Alaves on Sept. 10.
