Alexander Hleb ended months of speculation over his future yesterday by signing a four-year deal with Barcelona. The Catalan club agreed an initial fee of €15m (£11.9m) for the Belarus international rising to 17 depending on appearances.

Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, said that the club were comfortable letting Hleb leave the Emirates and wished the former Stuttgart player the best of luck at Barcelona. Last week the North London club completed the signing of Samir Nasri, who is viewed an effective replacement for the Belarus midfielder.

Hleb had been courting a move away from Arsenal since the end of last season, with Inter Milan favourites to sign him. But instead the Belarus international becomes Barcelona's fifth signing of the summer since Pep Guardiola took over from Frank Rijkaard.