Touré becomes first Ivory Coast player to sign for Barça

July 2, 2007 on 8:21 am | In Uncategorized |

Yaya Touré has signed a four year deal with Barcelona to become the club’s first player from the Ivory Coast. Touré cost an initial fee of nine million euros, that could rise to thirteen million depending on the club’s success in the Champions League over the next four seasons.

Club president, Joan Laporta (photo, centre), explained during yesterday’s press presentation that the player was previously part-owned by Monaco, and Metalurg Donetsk, where the player spent two seasons earlier in his career, which mean that agreements had to be reached with both clubs.

Monaco will receive nine million euros split over four payments.

The four million bonus, which would be paid to the Ukranian side, is a maximum amount that would only be payable if Barcelona win the Champions League each year for the next four season. Donetsk will be paid half a million euros each time Barcelona qualify for the Champions League and a further half a million each time they win it.

The signing completes Barcelona’s quota of four overseas non-European players, although Eto’o, Ronaldinho and Giovanni do Santos all have Spanish double nationality applications pending.

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