Fabregas decides to join Barcelona

Cesc Fabregas has finally made up his mind to quit Arsenal this summer and join Barcelona in a £30 million move.

Barcelona is Fabregas's boyhood club and the transfer may have huge implications for the future of Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger.

Fabregas's likely departure could make it difficult to persuade Wenger to sign another contract - his current deal runs out in July next year.

According to The Independent after a pursuit of Fabregas by Barcelona that has lasted three years, the 23-year-old has finally informed his advisors that he wants to leave Arsenal. He will tell Wenger personally before he departs with the Spain squad for the World Cup finals.

Fabregas has four years left on his contract and speculation is rife that Arsenal will demand a record transfer fee for the player but Barcelona have budgeted for £30m and think that sum is fair. Fabregas joined Arsenal in 2003 for what was a nominal compensation fee after spending six years at Barca's La Masia academy.