THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BARCELONA, Spain — Zlatan Ibrahimovic signed a five-year contract with Barcelona after passing a medical test on Monday.
The Sweden striker completed the Spanish champions’ most expensive transfer, a reported 45 million euros (C$69.3 million) move from Inter Milan. He is set to be presented later to more than 40,000 fans at Camp Nou stadium wearing the No. 9 Barcelona jersey.
The 27-year-old Ibrahimovic is contracted at Barcelona through to 2014. He has a buy-out clause at 250 million euros (C$385 million).
Barcelona’s Cameroon striker, Samuel Eto’o, is set to join Inter as part of the deal, while Belarus midfielder Aleksandr Hleb will go on loan to the Italian club for one season.
"I haven’t come to replace Eto’o because I’m a very different player," Ibrahimovic said. "I’m going to work to the maximum to demonstrate you haven’t made a mistake in signing me. Thanks to Inter Milan for allowing me to sign for Barcelona. This is a very big day for me."
Barcelona said Ibrahimovic has a broken finger on his left hand and will require surgery. The injury happened during Inter’s last friendly, against Chelsea in the United States.
"It will require setting surgically, which will be done tomorrow at noon," technical secretary Txiki Beguiristain said.