Barcelona have confirmed the signing of left-back Marcos Alonso, after the Spain international had his Chelsea contract terminated by mutual consent on Thursday.
Alonso, 31, will sign a contract until June 30, 2023, with a release clause set at €50 million, Barcelona announced Friday. He becomes Barca's eighth signing of a busy summer, following the arrivals of Pablo Torre, Franck Kessie, Andreas Christensen, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde and Hector Bellerin.
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Barca's pursuit of Alonso began earlier this year but the Catalan club's focus on other signings and Chelsea's desire to sign a replacement before sanctioning an exit held up the deal.
However, following Chelsea's €70 million signing of former Barca left-back Marc Cucurella from Brighton & Hove Albion, talks for Alonso accelerated.
Alonso joins Barca to provide competition for Jordi Alba, who at 33 has been an undisputed starter at the club for the last decade.
Look who's in town 👋💥 pic.twitter.com/2uTHAWsnzP
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 2, 2022
Chelsea signed Alonso from Fiorentina in 2016 and he has gone on to make 212 appearances for the Premier League side in all competitions, scoring 29 goals.
He has also played for English sides Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland having come through the academy at Barca's rivals Real Madrid, making one first-team appearance in LaLiga in 2010.
Alonso becomes Barca's second summer signing from Chelsea this summer. Danish centre-back Christensen joined on a free transfer in July.
Barca had also hoped to sign a third in versatile defender Cesar Azpilicueta. However, the Spain international signed a new two-year contract at Stamford Bridge recently.