Neymar announces Barca switch

Neymar has revealed he is set to leave Santos for Barcelona, and will sign a five-year contract with the Liga champions on Monday.

Brazilian club Santos had accepted two offers for the 21-year-old star, reported to be from Barcelona and Real Madrid, and the forward has now agreed terms with the Catalan giants.

After scoring 107 goals in 176 domestic appearances for Santos, Neymar is one of the hottest properties in football and a move to either of the Spanish heavyweights was expected, although the player had suggested he would remain in Brazil until after the 2014 FIFA World Cup when his contract was due to expire.

However, Barcelona have snapped him up a year early and he will join a star-studded squad alongside fellow Brazilians Dani Alves and Adriano at Camp Nou next season.

Although they won La Liga this season by 13 points from Real Madrid, Barca coach Tito Vilanova will hope Neymar can provide another attacking threat for the club, as they struggled to cope in the absence of Lionel Messi through injury at times in 2012/13.