Fabregas Deal Finally Made Official by Arsenal and Barcelona

English football club Arsenal has announced that it has reached an official agreement with Barcelona for Cesc Fabregas to move to Spain.

The Spanish club has finally confirmed the deal which is thought to be around £32 million ($52 million), during the half-time of the Spanish Supercup match against Real Madrid.

"We have been clear that we didn't want Cesc to leave and that remains the case,” Arsene Wenger told Arsenal.com.

The move signaled the end of the Spaniard's eight-year spell with Arsenal when the player joined Arsenal as a 16-year-old from Barcelona in 2003. Fabregas also holds the record for the youngest Arsenal first team player (16 years and 177 days v Rotherham United in 2003) and also the youngest first team goal-scorer (16 years and 212 days v Wolves in 2003).

“We understand Cesc's desire to move to his home town club and have now accepted an offer from Barcelona,” Wenger concluded. “We thank Cesc for his contribution at Arsenal and wish him future success.”

Fabregas will now undergo a medical at the Camp Nou on Monday and will be presented to the media after agreeing personal terms.

Barcelona president Sandro Rossell showed his excitement about the deal's conclusion and called it Fabregas’ homecoming.

Barca has previously failed with offers of £30 million ($49 million) and an improved bid of £29 million ($47 million) plus five million pounds in future add-ons had also failed to attract the Gunners.

Barcelona players Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol previously showed their delight about Fabregas’ return to Barcelona after a three-year long pursuit.

“@cesc4official. Ja el tenim aquí!!” wrote defender Gerard Pique in his Twitter account, which means “He is finally here.

“Nanuuuuu!!!benvingut a casa!!! Feliç de tenir-te aquí. @cesc4official ooohhhh moc moc,” Puyol tweeted, meaning “Welcome home!!! Happy to have you here."

Fabregas has made 303 appearances, scoring 57 goals in all competitions, and was named as Arsenal captain in November 2008. The Spaniard also became a regular in the Spain national team, making 58 appearances to date, according to Arsenal.com.