Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen has completed a move to Spanish giants FC Barcelona from Premier League club Arsenal in a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee believed to be £15m.

The 28-year old, who made 150 appearances in five seasons for Arsenal, passed a medical at Barcelona today and will be unveiled at the Nou Camp according to a statement by the Spanish club.

His last act as Arsenal captain was to lift the FA Cup in May, the only trophy the defender won during his spell at the club.

The centre-back had been a main stay in the Arsenal defence until two seasons ago when injuries and a solid partnership between Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker kept him put of the starting line-up.

Vermaelen as a result becomes Barça’s fifth signing in this transfer window following the signings of Ivan Rakitic from Sevilla, Luis Suarez from Liverpool, Jeremy Mathieu from Valencia and Pepe Reina from Liverpool.