Barcelona have confirmed defender Thomas Vermaelen has joined Roma on loan for the upcoming season.

The 30-year-old Belgium centre-back travelled to Italy for a medical over the weekend and Barca announced that a deal had been finalised between the clubs.

A club statement read: “Barcelona and Roma have reached an agreement for the loan of Thomas Vermaelen for the 2016/17 season. The agreement includes an option for Roma to buy the player at the end of that season.”

Vermaelen has had a difficult time at the Nou Camp since joining from Arsenal for £15million in 2014, with injuries limiting him to just 21 games.

The former Ajax defender had to wait until the final match of his first season to make his Barca first-team debut after undergoing thigh surgery.

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