Barcelona closed the signing of Cameroon midfielder Alex Song from Arsenal in a deal valued at 19 million euros (23.45 million dollars), the two clubs announced on Monday. The 25-year-old signed a five-year contract, is the second boost for Barca next season. The Catalans had already arranged the hiring side of the Spanish team Jordi Alba, who was in Valencia for 14 million euros. Barca opened the 2012-13 season in La Liga with a win by 5 x 1 over Real Sociedad at home on Sunday. After the match, the new Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova, welcomed the arrival of Song. "It will help us a lot and bring more strength to the team," Villanova said at a news conference. "It will be a surprise to many in terms of football because it is a very good player." Song strengthens the midfield sector normally occupied by Sergio Busquets and Seydou Keita also had, who left the team last month. The Cameroonian can also play in central defense. The defense position is the poorest of the team lately. Captain Carles Puyol, who is 34, suffered a series of injuries last season, while Eric Abidal recovered from a liver cancer that left him far from lawns. Busquets and Javier Mascherano were indented from midfield to play in central defense alongside Gerard Piqué on several occasions. Song came to Arsenal in 2005 and played 204 games for the London club. He is another player to leave Arsenal this month, after the departure of Robin van Persie to Manchester United. Cesc Fabregas also left Arsenal for Barcelona last year.
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