Van Bommel signs for Barcelona

PSV Eindhoven midfielder Mark van Bommel has signed a three-year deal with Barcelona, the Dutch champions said yesterday.

The 28-year-old had said he would leave PSV when his contract expired at the end of the season and was expected to join the Spanish champions.

Dutch international Van Bommel will be officially presented in Barcelona after the Netherlands' World Cup qualifiers against Romania on June 4 and Finland four days later.

Barcelona confirmed the signing on their website saying the deal had been kept quiet until after they had won the Primera Liga. The Catalan club secured their first league title in six years last Saturday.

Van Bommel, an attacking midfielder, will add depth to Barca's midfield linking up with Portugal international Deco and Spain's Xavi.

Frank Rijkaard's side suffered a string of injuries this season which threatened to undermine their title challenge with the versatile Gabri, Edmilson and midfielder Thiago Motta all sidelined with knee ligament problems.

Mexican international Rafael Marquez, who has played much of the season in midfield, will be free to return to his more natural position in defence.

Van Bommel's arrival restores Barca's strong links with the Netherlands as he teams up with compatriots Giovanni van Bronckhorst and coach Rijkaard.

Van Bommel joined PSV in 1999 and helped them to four league titles. He played 169 league matches and scored 46 goals.