Thomas Vermaelen completes loan to Roma from FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona and Roma reached an agreement on Monday for the loan of Thomas Vermaelen to the Italian club for the 2016-17 season. 

Barcelona gave permission to Vermaelen to travel to the capital of the country to finalise the details and take his medical, which he passed. 

Coach Luciano Spalletti's team have paid two million euros for the loan, with an option to buy of a further eight million. 

Vermaelen cost Barcelona 19m to buy from Arsenal two seasons ago, but largely thanks to injuries he found it hard to force his way into the team, playing just one game in his first season, 

In the second he had far fewer problems although still did not feature a great deal.