Barcelona strike €12m deal for Atletico Mineiro's Emerson

Barcelona have reached an agreement to sign Atletico Mineiro defender Emerson for €12million.

The 20-year-old will join Barca on July 1 and has agreed a five-year deal running until the end of the 2023-24 season.

In the meantime, he will acclimatise to LaLiga with a loan stint at Real Betis for the remainder of this term.

Emerson is currently representing Brazil in the South American Under-20 Championship in Chile and Barcelona compared his style to that of Dani Alves in their statement to announce the deal.

It is believed Barca sporting director Eric Abidal went to watch him in action against Gremio on November 3 during a scouting trip to South America.

LaLiga's champions have been active in the transfer market this month, sealing a deal to bring in highly rated Ajax midfielder Frenkie De Jong from 2019-20 and bringing in Kevin-Prince Boateng on loan from Sassuolo to provide attacking cover and Jeison Murillo from Valencia to bolster the defence.

B-team product Munir El Haddadi joined Sevilla on a permanent basis, while Denis Suarez moved to Arsenal on loan after signing a one-year contract extension.