Vidal thanks Bayern for sanctioning €20m Barca move

Dom Farrell

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Vidal thanks Bayern for sanctioning €20m Barca move image

Arturo Vidal bade a warm farewell to Bayern Munich as he relishes a new challenge at Barcelona.

Chile midfielder Vidal has agreed to join Barca on a three-year deal , with just a medical remaining to conclude a transfer understood to be worth in the region of €20 million (£18m/$23m).

The 31-year-old is Barca's fourth major recruit of the close season following Brazilian midfielder Arthur's arrival from Gremio, the capture of Bordeaux winger Malcom at Roma's expense and defender Clement Lenglet's switch from LaLiga counterparts Sevilla.

"Thanks to FC Bayern and all fans," Vidal said in a brief statement on the Bundesliga champions' official website.

"I really enjoyed the time in Munich. I would like to thank the club for giving me another chance to take on a new challenge in Barcelona. "

Vidal joined Bayern from Juventus in 2015 after enduring a Champions League final defeat to Barcelona.

He scored 22 goals and supplied 18 assists over the course of 124 competitive games, winning three Bundesliga titles in as many seasons.

"I would like to thank Arturo for three great years on behalf of FC Bayern," said chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

"We celebrated great success during this time, and Arturo had a significant share in that. 

"He has always been at the forefront of important games, we have always been able to rely on him."

Dom Farrell

Dom is the senior content producer for Sporting News UK. He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc. Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies. Dom has covered major football events on location, including the entirety of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Paris and St Petersburg respectively, along with numerous high-profile Premier League, Champions League and England international matches. Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.