Official: Barcelona complete signing of Brazilian defender Marlon Santos

Official: Barcelona complete signing of Brazilian defender Marlon Santos

Barcelona confirmed on Friday the signing of Marlon Santos, who joins the club on loan from Brazilian side Fluminense with an option to buy for five million euros at the end of the season.

As revealed by SPORT, Marlon will link up with Barça B. The Brazilian, 20, is a central defender with international experience at various age groups with his country. 

Marlon successfully passed his medical and will be available to do pre-season with Gerard Lopez's side. 

Barça managed to beat off competition from several other European clubs to land the defender's signature. 

In the case that they do decide they want to sign him next summer, it will only cost them 1.8 million euros, as they previously paid Fluminense 3.2 million euros for a preferential option on Gerson. 

However, midfielder Gerson joined Roma last summer and that sum of money was never returned to the Catalan side.