Barcelona have reached an agreement with PSV Eindhoven for the transfer of the Holland midfielder Ibrahim Afellay.
The deal, which was announced on both clubs' websites this evening, is still pending an agreement between the Spanish champions and the player, but if all goes to plan then the Holland international will move to the Nou Camp when the January transfer window opens.
A statement on www.fcbarcelona.es read: ‘PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona have reached an agreement on a deal to bring Ibrahim Afellay to Barca, subject to successfully settling personal terms between the player and the Catalan club over the coming weeks.
‘Until the deal is finally settled, Ibrahim Afellay wishes to concentrate on the upcoming important games for PSV.’
The 24-year-old Afellay's contract with PSV was due to expire at the end of the season and it was announced last month that he would not be penning a new deal with the Dutch outfit, with whom he has spent his whole career so far.
Former Barca midfielder Mark van Bommel backed his fellow Dutchman to be a success at the Nou Camp.
‘He's technically very good and very quick,’ Van Bommel told www.vi.nl.
‘His technical and physical qualities enable him to play in many different positions.
‘He is two-footed so he can play left, right and in the centre.’
Van Bommel is also confident the system employed by Pep Guardiola will benefit Afellay, adding: ‘The Dutch team plays a bit like Barcelona and Afellay knows how a good 4-3-3
system works.
‘With Lionel Messi, Xavi and the other Barcelona players Afellay will easily adapt to that team.’
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