Barcelona have revealed that Vitor Roque has signed a contract at Camp Nou until June 2031, with the forward set to be available for the Catalan outfit after the winter break.
Over the summer, it was confirmed that the La Liga champions had reached an agreement with Athletico Paranaense to purchase the highly-rated forward.
Roque was expected to move to Camp Nou in the summer of 2024, but his arrival has now been confirmed, and he will be free to make his debut for the club in their next match, which comes against Las Palmas on January 4.
"He's here. Vitor Roque landed in Barcelona early on Wednesday morning and is enjoying his first few hours as a Barca player in the Catalan capital," read a statement from the Spanish champions.
"The Brazilian striker, who is signing a contract until 30 June 2031, has a buyout clause set at €500m (£434.7m)."
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Roque made the move to Athletico Paranaense last year, and he has represented the club on 81 occasions, scoring 28 goals and registering 11 assists in the process.
The 18-year-old also made his Brazil debut in March, playing the final 25 minutes of a 2-1 loss to Morocco in an international friendly.
However, he was not considered for selection for his national side's October or November internationals due to an ankle problem.
"Vitor Roque is in town! The 18-year-old Brazilian international forward, who has joined FC Barcelona from Athletico Paranaense, has had a pleasant but busy first day as a Barca player in the Catalan capital," read a statement from Barcelona on Wednesday afternoon.
Ahhh. This is where it's at. pic.twitter.com/kiHCZCRpil
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 27, 2023
The teenager underwent his medical on Wednesday before conducting his first interview with the club's media channels.
Barcelona also confirmed that Roque will train with his new teammates for the first time on Friday, with the players starting to return to the training base after the winter break.
The Catalan side recorded an unconvincing 3-2 win over Almeria in their last competitive match on December 20, with the result leaving them in fourth position in the La Liga table on 38 points.
Should Roque not be considered for selection against Las Palmas on January 4, he could potentially make his debut for the club in their Copa del Rey contest with Barbastro on January 7.
Matt Law
