Suarez to sign for Barca

Luis Suarez will complete his move from Liverpool to Barcelona next week, it has been announced.

The Liga club confirmed on Friday that the 27-year-old will sign a five-year contract at Camp Nou following a medical next week after they agreed an undisclosed transfer fee with Liverpool.

Liverpool also released a statement announcing the news, which read: “Liverpool FC confirms that Luis Suarez will be leaving the club after a transfer agreement was reached with FC Barcelona.

“The player now has permission to complete the usual formalities, which will then conclude the transfer.

“We would like to thank Luis for his contribution and the role he played in helping bring Champions League football back to Anfield.

“Everyone at Liverpool Football Club wishes Luis and his family well for the future.”

Suarez scored 82 goals in 133 appearances for Liverpool, including 31 in the Premier League alone last season, but also spent significant time on the sidelines due to bans for unsavoury incidents.

Having been suspended for racially abusing Patrice Evra and biting Branislav Ivanovic, Suarez then made the headlines for the wrong reasons again at the FIFA World Cup last month when sinking his teeth into the shoulder of Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay’s final group game.

The 27-year-old was subsequently banned from all football-related activity by FIFA for four months, with an appeal against that sanction from the Uruguayan Football Association (AFU) being rejected on Thursday.

Barca are seeking to rebuild under new coach Luis Enrique after winning only the Supercopa de Espana last term, and Suarez is the club’s latest high-profile arrival following the captures of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Ivan Rakitic and Claudio Bravo.