FC Barcelona have confirmed that they have signed Valencia CF midfielder and Portugal international André Gomes for an estimated fee of nearly 50 million Euros, on a contract of five years.
With that signing, he becomes the third player to join the club in the summer transfer window, prior to the start of the 2016-17 season.
A Champion in Catalonia
After winning the European Championships in France just weeks ago for his native Portugal, Gomes was a key player in their successful campaign as well as an important player for Valencia after only two seasons.
He leaves the Mestalla with 77 appearances to his name and nine goals. The club in Catalonia will be his third club of his career having started at Benfica, where which he won three domestic titles in Lisbon during the 2013-14 season prior to his move to Spain.
Looking forward
Luis Enrique's midfield continues to be stacked with players after this signing; with players such as Andres Iniesta, Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Aleix Vidal, Sergi Roberto, Arda Turan and Rafinha on the books that will now also include the Portuguese international.
This news is bad for Real Madrid fans as it was suggested by various reports in Spain that Gomes would be a part of their side that won the UEFA Champions League last season. As well as this, Real have not signed anyone yet for Zinedine Zidane's squad for the upcoming season.
Gomes becomes the seventh Portuguese player ever to play for Barcelona and the first since Deco, but joins a list that includes the likes of Luis Figo, Fernando Couto, Ricardo Quaresma, Simão and Vitor Baia.
Barcelona begin their pre-season campaign in a couple of days with friendlies across Europe. Their opponents include Scottish side Celtic, defending Premier League champions Leicester City, English giant Liverpool and Serie A side Sampdoria, for the annual Joan Gamper Trophy.