Barcelona to sign £34m Villa

Barcelona have moved quickly to reinforce their squad snapping up Spain striker David Villa from Valencia for £34 million, three days after winning a second consecutive La Liga title.

After a Valencia board meeting, president Manuel Llorente said they had accepted Barca's offer for the prized striker, who scored 21 league goals last season to finish his fifth consecutive campaign as the club's top scorer.

"There was a big offer from England that was not from Chelsea but Barcelona's was the best for us and the footballer," Llorente said at the Mestalla, without specifying which Premier League club had made a bid.

France striker Thierry Henry spent most of last season on the bench and is expected to move on.