Barcelona sign Aleix Vidal from Sevilla in £16.7m deal

Vidal has stood out for the Europa League winners this season and has been rewarded by his first call-up to the latest Spain squad by coach Vicente del Bosque.

A statement on the Barcelona website said: “Aleix Vidal has passed his routine medical checks on Monday morning at Hospital de Barcelona and in the medical centre at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper.

“The Catalan, who arrives from Sevilla, is returning to the club where he played one season with the U14 B team in 2001/02, alongside current team-mate Jordi Alba.

“Vidal is a player that can play anywhere on the right and is noted for his swift runs up the wing, an asset that Sevilla, who signed him from Almeria, made good use of in their recent Europa League winning campaign.”

"I went through a lot to get here and I'm living a dream. I always try to give my best," said Vidal.

However, Barca will be unable to play Vidal until January 2016 due to a FIFA ban on bringing in new players for two transfer windows after breaking rules over the signing of foreign under-18 players

Vidal has pedigree as a midfielder but has been used as a right-back by Sevilla this season and is being seen as a possible replacement for Dani Alves, who looks likely to leave the club.

This is a rather curious transfer, as Barcelona are banned from signing players until January 2016. However, they have signed Vidal and he will join up with the first team and train with them but won’t play until early next year, when the ban ends. What this deal does suggest though is that the European champions are planning for life after Dani Alves and it looks increasingly likely that the Brazilian will leave this summer.