Barcelona confirm Franck Kessie free transfer and include eye-watering £430MILLION release clause in boost to Man Utd

BARCELONA have confirmed Franck Kessie as their second summer signing to help bolster Xavi squad for the upcoming season.

The Ivory Coast international will sign on a free transfer from Serie A champions AC Milan and has a £430MILLION release clause in his contract.

Kessie leaves AC Milan having won the Serie A in the last of his three seasons with the Italian giants.

He arrived in Barcelona on Tuesday morning and will sign a four-year deal at the Camp Nou.

The box-to-box midfielder will be officially presented by the club tomorrow.

After being announced as a Barca player, Kessie told the club's official website: "This is a great opportunity.

"I am really looking forward to starting and doing all I can for this team… When a great coach like Xavi calls, who was also a great player, you see that all the effort was worth it.

"I can’t wait to start working for him and with all my team-mates."

Kessie also labelled countryman and former Barca star Yaya Toure as his idol.

He continued: “I am hard-working player. He was a great footballer.

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"I was lucky enough to play alongside him for our country, and I’d be delighted to have a career as good as his."

Kessie spent three years in Milan, scoring 36 goals and recording 16 assists in 226 appearances for the club.

His arrival could potentially pave the way for Frenkie De Jong to complete his highly anticipated move to Manchester United.

Reports suggest the Red Devils have agreed a £56.2m fee with Barcelona for the Dutchman.