JAVIER MASCHERANO has joined Chinese Super League side Hebei Fortune in an £8.7million deal.
A Barcelona statement confirmed: “FC Barcelona and Hebei China Fortune have reached an agreement for the transfer of Javier Mascherano to the Chinese club from January 26.”
Barca will hold a farewell ceremony for the Argentina veteran, 33, today at 10am GMT.
President Josep Maria Bartomeu and the first-team squad will all be in attendance.
It will be live streamed in English on Barcelona’s website, Facebook and YouTube.
Mascherano spent seven-and-a-half seasons at the Nou Camp following his £17m move from Liverpool.
He won four La Liga titles, four Copa del Reys, three Spanish Super Cups and two Champions Leagues.
But the versatile Argentine – who can play at centre-back or in midfield – lost his place in the team.
First-choice defenders Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti have kept Mascherano warming the bench but he feels he has more left in the tank.
In September Mascherano said: “The focus is to be happy and the decision I make will depend on how things are going.
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“In Barcelona, it is obvious I am not playing at the frequency I played before.
“I’m still playing, I’m still competing, I’m in a team where every game I play is because I earn it in training, but it’s clear there are many times you want to play more.
“I’m not saying that I have to play more, because the starters are two players of the highest level and there is not much more to do there.
“I’m always analysing the situation and I will see.”
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