Barcelona have completed the signing of Valencia defender Jeremy Mathieu. The 30-year-old has put pen to paper on a four-year deal after Barca agreed to meet his £15.8million release clause.

The Frenchman will likely be tasked with filling the retired Carles Puyol's sizeable shoes in the heart of the Blaugrana backline.

Barca were in desperate need of defensive reinforcements with Gerard Pique and Marc Bartra the only recognised centre backs in the squad.

Javier Mascherano has been deployed in that position for much of the last two seasons but is much better suited to midfield.