Sanabria makes Roma switch

Roma have confirmed the long-awaited signing of Paraguay international Antonio Sanabria from Barcelona on a five-year deal.

The 18-year-old was widely tipped to join the Stadio Olimpico club during the January transfer window but the deal was halted by regulations surrounding non-EU players.

Roma are permitted to sign two players from outside the EU per season – with Gervinho and Maicon arriving last term.

Therefore, Sanabria was bought by Roma’s Serie A rivals Sassuolo at the start of the year, where he featured just twice as the club narrowly avoided relegation.

A move to Roma was always on the cards, though, and Sanabria has agreed a contract with the Serie A runners-up until 2019.

He will become the latest close-season signing to arrive at the club after Ashley Cole, Salih Ucan, Leandro Paredes and Juan Iturbe.

Roma will pay an initial fee of €2.5 million for Sanabria, which could rise to €7m based on bonuses.

The striker made his Roma debut in Thursday’s friendly win over Liverpool in Boston – replacing captain Francesco Totti after an hour.