It’s complete. Arsenal have completed the loan signing of Denis Suarez. He joins from Barcelona on loan until the end of the season with an option to purchase for £18million.
He’s got five months to really impress and earn that deal. Suarez, who has one cap for Spain, has also agreed a new contract with Barcelona to protect his market value should a permanent move to the Emirates not work out, with his new deal expiring in June 2021.
He will link up again with Arsenal boss Unai Emery, who he worked with during a loan spell at Sevilla during the 2014-15 season. Arsenal will be paying Suarez’s wages during his loan spell. Suarez played 71 games in three seasons with the first team at Barcelona, scoring eight goals and has won five trophies: La Liga, two Copas del Rey and two Spanish Super Cups. Born in Salceda de Caselas, Pontevedra, Galicia, Suárez played youth football in his home country for Porriño Industrial and Celta de Vigo.
Suárez signed for Manchester City on 23 May 2011. Manchester City beat off interest from Barcelona, Chelsea and rivals Manchester United signing him for an initial fee of £850,000 with the potential to rise by £2.75 million depending on appearances and performances. On 22 August 2013 Suárez completed a transfer to Barcelona for an undisclosed fee, signing a four-year contract. During the 2013–14 season he played mostly for Barcelona B in the Spanish Segunda División to continue his development. In July 2014, Suárez was loaned to Sevilla for two seasons as part of the deal which saw Ivan Rakiti? move to Barcelona.
He made his competitive debut on 12 August in the 2014 UEFA Super Cup at Cardiff City Stadium, playing 78 minutes before being substituted for José Antonio Reyes in the 2–0 defeat to Real Madrid. On 29 August 2015, Suárez completed a transfer to Villarreal for an undisclosed fee, signing a four-year contract which includes a buy back clause. On 4 July 2016, Barcelona announced the return of Suárez after exercising the buy back clause. Barcelona paid €3.5 million and Suárez signed a four-year contract, with an option of a further year depending on the number of appearances. In his first season, Suárez managed only 12 La Liga starts.