Kevin-Prince Boateng has joined Barcelona in a shock move from the Italian side Sassuolo. The La Liga leaders have announced the arrival of Boateng on an initial loan deal with the option for an €8m (£7.05m) permanent move in the summer. Barcelona confirmed the forward’s arrival shortly after Boateng told reporters in Italy that the transfer was complete. The 31-year-old will sign his contract on Tuesday before a photo session and press conference at Camp Nou. “FC Barcelona and US Sassuolo have arrived at an agreement for the loan of the player Kevin-Prince Boateng for the remainder of the 2018/19 season,” a statement on Barcelona’s website read. “The agreement includes an €8m purchase option.” “Barça, I’m coming!” Boateng told Sky Sport earlier on Monday. “I’m sad to leave Sassuolo but it’s a great chance.” Boateng also brushed off newspaper reports that he was a Real Madrid fan when growing up. “Don’t ask me about Real Madrid … it’s just the past,” he said. “I only want to focus on Barcelona, and I hope to score at the Bernabéu [in] the next Clásico.” While at Eintracht Frankfurt last year, Boateng told Rheinische Post: “I know – without sounding arrogant – that I could’ve played at Real Madrid … but I didn’t work hard enough for that.” The former Ghana international signed for Sassuolo on a free transfer last summer and has starred for Roberto De Zerbi’s side as they have cemented a mid-table position in Serie A.The 31-year-old has scored five goals in 15 appearances, making an impact despite missing several weeks of the season with a pelvic injury. Barcelona are understood to have been impressed with Boateng’s performances in a false nine role in Italy. The Spanish league leaders are short of cover in attacking positions following the departures of Paco Alcácer to Borussia Dortmund and Munir El Haddadi to Sevilla. The Camp Nou will be the most high-profile destination so far in Boateng’s nomadic career since leaving his hometown club, Hertha Berlin, to join Spurs in 2007. In an interview with the Guardian in 2017, Boateng admitted he struggled to adapt to life in London, but that he “grew up” after losing his way. The Fiver Boateng left White Hart Lane for Dortmund in 2009, where he played under Jürgen Klopp – “the best coach in the world” – before a move to a crisis‑hit Portsmouth. The forward scored at Wembley against Spurs in an FA Cup semi-final, but ended his time in England with relegation. “It was crazy, beautiful,” Boateng said of his time at Fratton Park. “I loved playing there.” A successful World Cup with Ghana in 2010 led to a move to Milan – via a complex loan arrangement with Genoa. Boateng has subsequently played for Schalke and Frankfurt in Germany, with his only La Liga experience coming in a single season at Las Palmas.<doc-sep>Last updated on .From the section European Football Boateng has scored four goals in 13 league games for Sassuolo this season Kevin-Prince Boateng has completed a "dream" move to Barcelona on loan for the remainder of the season. The former Tottenham and Portsmouth forward was handed the chance to make a surprise return to La Liga as Barca needed attacking cover for Luis Suarez. Boateng made Italian side Sassuolo his ninth club on a free transfer last year and Barca have the option to sign the 31-year-old for £7.1m in the summer. "It's a big dream come true," he said. "It's a big honour for me to be here." After leaving Hertha Berlin in 2007, Boateng played for Spurs and Pompey before earning a move to AC Milan in 2010, helping them win Serie A in his first season. He was praised for leading Milan players off the pitch during a friendly against Pro Patria in January 2013 because of racist chants. Boateng later played for Schalke before scoring 10 goals for Spanish side Las Palmas in 2016-17 and helping Eintracht Frankfurt win last season's German Cup. He has scored five goals in 15 games for Sassuolo this season, taking his career total to 61 in 398 games. Although born in Germany, he made 15 appearances for Ghana while his half-brother - Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng - plays for Germany and they faced each other at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. Barca were short of attacking options after the La Liga leaders sold Paco Alcacer and Munir El Haddadi this month. "He doesn't seem to need much time to adapt," said coach Ernesto Valverde. "He knows his stuff and can start playing straight away. "He's comfortable in many positions, as a central striker or playing off another striker, and even deeper too."<doc-sep>KEVIN-PRINCE BOATENG was unveiled by Barcelona today after finalising his shock loan move - it's just a shame that practically no one was at the Nou Camp to see it. The La Liga leaders completed the £1.8million loan signing of the ex-Spurs forward from Sassuolo yesterday. 7 Nou Camp was quiet for Kevin-Prince Boateng's grand Barcelona unveiling Credit: AP:Associated Press Boateng's Barcelona deal runs until the end of the season and can be made permanent for a further £7m. But his grand reveal at the Nou Camp lacked the star power - and footfall - of previous unveilings such as Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembele and Cesc Fabregas. At least unlike Dembele he did not mess up the kick-ups, though. Boateng, 31, returns to La Liga having played in the country for Las Palmas during the 2016/17 season. 7 The former Spurs star has signed on loan until the end of the season Credit: Getty Images - Getty 7 Boateng was all smiles despite the lack of fanfare Credit: Reuters 7 A photo from the same angle showed way more fans there for Dembele's unveiling Credit: AFP or licensors Ghana star Boateng joined Sassuolo in July and scored four goals in 13 Serie A games, despite missing several weeks through injury. But speaking about his switch to Barcelona and leaving the Italian side, he said: "It's a very sad day because I'm saying goodbye to an amazing group and club like Sassuolo that gave me a lot. "Going to Barcelona is a huge opportunity and an incredible feeling. "I was very stressed today but I wanted to say goodbye to everyone. I respect Sassuolo. 7 There is usually much more fanfare for Barca's signings Credit: AFP or licensors 7 The famous stadium was packed for Fabregas' unveiling in 2011 Credit: EPA 7 So many more supporters turned out for Yerry Minas' reveal Credit: REUTERS "I remember my debut [with AC Milan] in the Gamper trophy against Barca, and the emotions run high." Boateng will be given a brief to operate as a false nine and provide back-up to Luis Suarez. Barcelona are his tenth club in as many years, following stints at Schalke, Portsmouth and Eintracht Frankfurt.<doc-sep>Former Portsmouth midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng is close to joining Barcelona on loan from Italian side Sassuolo. Sky Sports News understands Barcelona will pay around £1.75m to borrow the 31-year-old for the rest of the season with an option to buy for £7m in the summer. Sassuolo general director Giovanni Carnevali will fly to Barcelona later on Monday and a deal is expected to be finalised later this week. Boateng only joined Sassuolo in the summer and has scored four goals in 13 Serie A outings, recently playing in a more advanced role. 19:41 Transfer Centre Extra goes behind the scenes and beyond the headlines as we bring you the story of the window this week. His previous spell in La Liga was a successful one, Boateng scoring 10 goals in 28 appearances for Las Palmas in 2016-17 before leaving for Eintracht Frankfurt. Boateng's Europe-hopping career has also seen him play for Hertha Berlin, Borussia Dortmund, Schalke, Tottenham, Portsmouth and Milan. Barcelona have been looking to bolster their attacking options since allowing Munir El Haddadi to join Sevilla.<doc-sep>
Barcelona have confirmed the signing of former Portsmouth and Tottenham midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng on a loan deal until the end of the season. The 31-year-old former Ghana international has joined from Serie A club Sassuolo in a £1.8m deal which includes an option to buy for £7.1m in the summer. Boateng, who joined Portsmouth from Spurs in 2009 before going on to sign for AC Milan a year later, will be presented to the media on Tuesday morning. "It's a very sad day. Because I'm saying goodbye to an amazing group and club like Sassuolo that gave me a lot," Boateng told Sky in Italy on Monday night, before boarding a plane to Barcelona. Image: Boateng was a fan favourite at Portsmouth and featured in the team that got to the FA Cup final in 2010 "Going to Barcelona is a huge opportunity and an incredible feeling. I was very stressed today but I wanted to say goodbye to everyone, I respect Sassuolo. "I remember my debut [with AC Milan] in the Gamper trophy against Barca, and the emotions run high…" Boateng's arrival at the Nou Camp marks his return to La Liga, after featuring for Las Palmas in the 2016/17 season where he scored 10 goals in 28 appearances. The Ghanaian faced backlash from Barcelona fans on social media as an old video resurfaced where he said he would have liked to play with Real Madrid rather than the Catalans, if he had the choice. "My pro-Real Madrid video from the past? It's old stuff, I'm very focused on Barca. I'll be hoping to score in the Clasico at the Bernabeu," he said. Boateng will be available for the first leg of Barcelona's Copa del Rey quarter-final clash against Sevilla on Wednesday night.