Exclusive: Barcelona Agree Hleb Deal

Barcelona have reached an agreement to sign Aleksandr Hleb from Arsenal and will make an official announcement in the next two days, Goal.com can exclusively reveal.

Jul 9, 2008 1:57:40 PM

Alexander Hleb - Paul Konchesky , Arsenal v Fulham , Barclays Premier League

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The Belorussian has been waiting for the two clubs to agree a deal after he agreed personal terms and he will now fly to the Catalan capital to undergo a medical and sign for the Blaugrana.

Joan Laporta scraped through a vote of no confidence at the weekend and that has allowed his board to continue with business as usual and Hleb represents the first piece of business to be done since that fans' vote.

Arsenal recognised that they were not going to be able to hold on to the former VfB Stuttgart playmaker and it was just a matter of time before he left the club this summer.

The 27-year-old is Barça's fifth new signing of the summer and their second midfield acquisition after the arrival of Seydou Keita from Sevilla last month.

Hleb will be the first Belorussian to play for the Catalan giants and will make his debut for the club on their trip to Scotland against Hibernian on July 24.

With Ronaldinho set to leave Camp Nou, Barcelona were intent on bolstering the left side of their squad and the latest signing now rules out any chance Andrei Arshavin could have of joining the club this year.

After just one season, Hleb will team up again with former Arsenal team-mate Thierry Henry and it remains to be seen if they can strike up a better understanding than they did for the Gunners.

Lucas Brown, Goal.com