Spain champion Barcelona is to sign Spain striker David Villa from Valencia in a transfer worth $49 million. Villa was Spain’s leading scorer during its 2008 European Championshiptitle win and has scored 206 goals in 393 appearances since his debut for Sporting Gijon in 2003. With 36 goals in 55 games for Spain he is closing in on Raul’s record of 44 in 102appearances.
The 28-year-old scored 21 league goals for third-place Valencia last season. His arrival at Barca will puts under scrutiny the futures of strikers ZlatanIbrahimovic and Thierry Henry, who is reportedly set to move to MLS.
“Like Lionel (Messi) he’s a combination of a center forward or also a right winger whocan float to the middle,” Barcelona sporting director Txiki Begiristain said. “His profile is that of a player who is skillful at crossfield movement and (he) maneuversvery well in open space since he has great depth.”