Barcelona have completed the signing of Valencia defender Jeison Murillo on a loan deal until the end of the season, say multiple reports.
El Mundo Deportivo say a deal has been struck between the two clubs with a variety of other publications stating an agreement is imminent.
Reports from Valencia have added the detail that the Blaugrana have included the option to sign the central defender permanently for €25m.
The Colombian international has suffered a number of injury problems over the past 12 months and has started just 16 La Liga games for Los Che – with just one coming this season – since arriving at the Mestalla in 2017.
The 26-year-old meets the club’s profile of a new central defender – holding an EU passport, right-footed and offering short-term cover for the first-team.
The Catalan giants are said to have acknowledged their number one defensive targets – namely Ajax’s Matthjis de Ligt – are unattainable in January, so they are looking elsewhere.
The Catalan media have been in a frenzy, linking the club to a number of targets including Juventus defender Daniele Rugani alongside experienced duo Branislav Ivanovic and Martin Skrtel.
The Blaugrana are said to be on the lookout for new defenders following injuries to Samuel Umtiti and Thomas Vermaelen.
Murillo has formerly played for Cadiz, Las Palmas, Granada and Inter before his switch to Valencia last year.
