OFFICIAL: Barcelona sign Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin

Barcelona and Héctor Bellerín have reached an agreement to sign the player, after the defender terminated his contract with Arsenal Football Club. 

Barcelona:

The player will sign a contract until 30 June 2023 and the buyout clause has been set at 50 million euros.

FC Barcelona will shortly be announcing the details of the official presentation of Bellerín as a new member of its senior men’s team.

He will thus be putting the blaugrana jersey back on after an absence of 11 years - the youngster departed La Masia for North London in 2011.

Made in la Masia

The Barça Escola was Bellerín's first experience at Barça, aged just six years old. In 2003, he joined the development centre, and the talented player progressed from the Under-10 B side through to the Under-16 A side before embarking on a new chapter in England.

He played both right fullback and winger during his final season with Under-16 A side, coached by García Pimienta and featuring names such as Grimaldo, Keita Balde, Samper and Sandro.

Aged 16 years old, he joined Arsenal in London in 2013 after playing for Barca's youth teams. His long career at Emirates Stadium stadium was only briefly interrupted by a loan period of just over four months at Watford in the  2013/14 season. 

Still aged only 19 years old, the 2014/15 season was when he started to figure in the Arsenal first team for the first time, establishing himself as the right fullback the following season. He won his first trophies with the London club - four FA Cups and four Community Shields.

He added a Copa del Rey to his personal trophy cabinet while playing for Betis during the 2021/22 season, making the right back spot his own in the team coached by Pellegrini after spending seven seasons in the first team of the "Gunners".

An experienced fullback

Bellerín still has the attributes he acquired while at La Masia in addition to his experience from playing in the Premier League. He is good at combining and dribbling, with his acceleration and speed also strong points. The fullback's attacking skills mean he is always involved as his teams progress up the pitch.