Valencia have confirmed Jeison Murillo will join Barcelona in January on loan for the remainder of the season.
Barcelona have pushed a deal over the line before the transfer window opens next month after prioritising the need to sign a new centre-back.
Samuel Umtiti and Thomas Vermaelen are both on the mend from long-term injuries leaving Barcelona with only two fit senior centre-backs to pick from.
Barcelona were briefly linked with an audacious loan move for Chelsea youngster Andreas Christensen but have now swooped for Murillo.
The 26-year-old joined Valencia from Italian giants Inter on a two-year loan deal in 2017 but the Spanish giants made his move permanent after just one season.
Murillo has dropped completely out of favour since then and has now earned a shock move to Barcelona, who have an option to secure his long-term services for a further €25m.
Barcelona’s top transfer target is Ajax sensation Matthijs de Ligt and it’s likely the Spanish champions have moved for Murillo as they wait to sign the teenager in the summer.
Signing De Ligt in January would require making the 19-year-old the most expensive defender of all-time and was always unlikely after Ajax qualified for the knockout stage of the Champions League.
Since debuting for Valencia last season, Los Che have won 68.7% of their league matches when Murillo has started compared to a win ratio of just 36.8% when he has not featured from the off.
