Colombia centre back Yerry Mina joined Barcelona from Brazilian side Palmeiras on a five-year contract for a fee of €11.8 million, the Catalan club announced on Thursday.
The 1.95-metre 23-year-old is set to fill the void left by Javier Mascherano, who is on the verge of a €10 million switch to China’s Hebei Fortune. The Colombian international will be Barcelona’s second signing of the January transfer window after Philippe Coutinho’s capture from Liverpool for a club record fee.
Mina has a €100 million release clause attached to his contract. With Mascherano set to leave and injured young French centre-back Samuel Umtiti widely reported to be in talks with Manchester City, Barcelona had faced being left with only two recognised centre backs in Gerard Pique and Thomas Vermaelen.