Barca confirm Neymar signing

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Spanish champions Barcelona have agreed the signing of Brazil striker Neymar from Santos.

The 21-year-old will sign a five-year contract, the club said, with the player confirming he will sign his contract on Monday.

A Barcelona statement read: "FC Barcelona and Santos have agreed to terms for Neymar da Silva Santos Junior. The Brazilian forward will don the Blaugrana strip for the next five seasons. The 21-year old is one of the most promising footballers on the planet."

Neymar had been considering his future after his club Santos revealed they had accepted two offers for their star player, with Barca confirmed as one of the bidders and Real Madrid widely assumed to be the other.

Neymar has confirmed his decision, writing on Instagram: "I'm here with friends and family and they have helped me to write a few things here. I'm not going to hold out until Monday. My family and friends already know my decision. On Monday I will sign a contract with Barcelona."

The 21-year-old's contract at Santos was due to expire at the end of next season and some reports had suggested an agreement with Barcelona was reached as much as a year ago.

Now the move has been confirmed.

Neymar wrote: "I want to thank the fans of Santos for these incredible nine years. My feeling for the club and the fans will never change. It is eternal!

"Only a club like Santos FC could give me everything I have experienced on and off the field. I thank the wonderful fans who supported me even in the most difficult moments.

"Titles, goals, dribbling, celebrations and songs that fans created for me will be forever in my heart..."