BARCELONA HAVE COMPLETED the transfer of Jordi Alba from Valencia for a fee of 14 million euros.

The La Liga giants confirmed on their official website on Thursday that the left-back has signed a contract until 2017.

Barca had reached an agreement with Valencia over a transfer fee at the end of June and the Spain international has now signed his contract upon successful completion of a medical.

Alba, who was unveiled to fans on the Camp Nou pitch on Thursday, spoke of his delight at returning to the club at a press conference.

“I’m very happy to come back home to my family and my people,” the left-back, who was released from Barca in 2005, told reporters.

“And thanks to the fans who came to the stadium. I did not expect so many people to come. I’d like to thank all those who made it possible to return home.”

Barca vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu also spoke of his delight at the completion of the transfer, and revealed that director of football Andoni Zubizarreta had been keeping tabs on the 23-year-old for some time.

“We’re very excited. We all know about him – he went out to make a career and is coming home now. We have a long history here,” Bartomeu said.

“It was a goal the club had sought for a long time. Zubi (Zubizarreta) told us about his interest in Alba more than a year ago.”

The Euro 2012 winner, who has a 90 million euro buy-out clause in his deal, came through the ranks in Catalunya, before being let go and eventually breaking into the first team at Mestalla.

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