Barcelona have confirmed the signing of Junior Firpo for €25 million from Real Betis – bringing their total spend for the summer up to more than €250m.

Firpo, 22, earned rave reviews for both his solidity in defence and willingness in attack from left-back in what his first full campaign in Betis’ senior team in 2018/19.

Barca had clearly seen enough, securing a deal for a player who is expected to keep a 30-year-old Jordi Alba honest and turn into his successor.

Firpo joins Antoine Griezmann, Frenkie de Jong and Neto through the door at Barca this summer, as they tool up for a Champions League push and a first European trophy for five years.

Despite this outlay, the Catalans are rumoured to still be in the hunt for Neymar, whose frosty relationship with PSG has shown no sign of abating.

Barcelona open their La Liga campaign up at Athletic Bilbao on Friday August 16.