Valencia sign Munir El Haddadi from Barcelona on a season-long loan
Barcelona's forward Munir El Haddadi looks on during the second leg of the Spanish Supercup football match between FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on August 17, 2016. / AFP / PAU BARRENA (Photo credit should read PAU BARRENA/AFP/Getty Images)
Valencia have signed Munir El Haddadi from Barcelona on a season-long loan with an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the campaign for £10.2m.
Munir, 20, moves to the Mestalla after confirmation that Spain forward Paco Alcacer is heading in the other direction for an initial fee of €30m.Barcelona have retained the first option on Munir if he’s sold on again in the future.
After arriving at the club from Rayo Majadahonda as a teenager in 2011, the forward made his first-team debut for Barcelona in 2014, scoring in a 3-0 win over Elche.
COMUNICADO OFICIAL | @Munirhaddadi, #ElNou9 ➡ https://t.co/jS8PBNzUEx pic.twitter.com/ghEbeVGw43
— Valencia CF (@valenciacf) August 30, 2016
He has formed part of Luis Enrique’s first team squad ever since, making 45 appearances and scoring 10 goals in all competitions.
Capped by Spain at senior level and a regular with the under-21s, there had been reported interest from fellow La Liga side Celta Vigo before the move to Valencia was completed.
Munir becomes the third player to leave Camp Nou on loan in a week following the departures of Sergi Samper and Douglas to Granada and Sporting Gijon respectively.
Barcelona are unlikely to complete any more transfer activity before the window closes on Wednesday.
Sporting director Robert Fernandez previously confirmed it would be “Paco or no-one” as far as signings were concerned, while Munir is likely to be the last player to leave the club until at least January.
