Arturo Vidal is leaving FC Bayern München with immediate effect to join Spanish LaLiga champions Barcelona. The clubs reached agreement on the transfer late on Friday evening. Vidal, who joined FC Bayern in summer 2015 from Turin side Juventus, was contracted to the German record champions until 30 June 2019.

“On behalf of FC Bayern, I wish to thank Arturo with all my heart for three fantastic years,” commented FC Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. “Arturo made a significant contribution to the great successes we enjoyed in this time. He always led from the front in important matches, and we could always rely on him.“

Vidal said: “Thank you to FC Bayern and all the fans. I very much enjoyed my time in Munich. I’d like to thank the club for giving me the chance to take on another new challenge with Barcelona.“

The 31-year-old Chile international scored 22 goals and provided 18 assists in 124 appearances for the German record champions. With Bayern, Vidal won the German championship three times, the DFB Cup once and the domestic Supercup twice.

Vidal will sign an contract with FC Barcelona which will keep him for the next three seasons at the club and is pending the medical examination that the player will undertake over the course of the next few days.