<<Print>>

Cesc Fabregas is officially a Barcelona player after signing a five-year contract with the European champions. The former Arsenal captain, 24, said he moved back home to take up "the greatest challenge of my life". The deal is worth a potential �35m to Arsenal, with Fabregas' buy-out clause set at 200m euros by Barcelona. Fabregas added: "I have waited a long time for this moment. After eight years away I hope to leave you all with many great memories." The World Cup winner, who returns to the club he left as a 16-year-old in 2003, will wear the number four shirt. According to the Barcelona website, Fabregas passed the medicals with ease. "All the tests taken have been satisfactory," said Barcelona first-team doctor Ricard Pruna, who said Fabregas "can be integrated into training without any problem". The finalisation of the Fabregas deal brings to an end one of the most protracted transfer sagas in recent football history. "We have lost a world-class player," said Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger on Monday. "We are sad about it because we tried to keep him." Fabregas returned the compliment, praising Wenger for the positive impact he had made on his career. "I'll never have enough words to thank him for all he's done for me," he said. "I'll never forget him. "I don't think he has such a good image here. He has been portrayed as something he's not, in my opinion. If today I am here with you, then it's greatly due to him. "I can't express my admiration for him strongly enough, I owe it to him that I am here." News of a deal to take Fabregas back to Spain was confirmed at half-time of the first leg of Barcelona's Spanish Super Cup match against Real Madrid on Sunday, which ended 2-2. Commenting on what he described as "very tough" negotiations, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said Fabregas had benefited greatly from his time at Arsenal, adding: "Cesc grew up with Barcelona but he became a huge player thanks to Wenger and Arsenal." Fabregas trained with his Arsenal team-mates for the final time on Friday morning and was not part of Wenger's squad for Saturday's Premier League opener against Newcastle, which finished 0-0. He had missed the club's summer tour of Asia as well as other pre-season games, including the Emirates Cup, because of a hamstring injury. The Spaniard, who has 58 caps for his country, made 303 appearances for the Gunners during his eight-year spell in north London, scoring 57 goals in all competitions. In October 2003, he became Arsenal's youngest first-team player when he made his debut against Rotherham United in the Carling Cup aged 16 years and 177 days. He also became the club's youngest goalscorer when he netted against Wolves in a 5-1 win that December. Fabregas was part of the Arsenal team that beat Manchester United on penalties to win the 2005 FA Cup, which turned out to be his only major trophy with the Gunners. He went on to become Arsenal captain in November 2008. Striker Robin van Persie is likely to take over as the new permanent Arsenal skipper, although he will be suspended for the Champions League qualifier against Udinese on Tuesday after being shown a red card against Barcelona in the Champions League last season.