Barcelona agrees to sign Atletico Madrid's Arda Turan for 34 million

Barcelona have added an extra creative option in midfield by agreeing to sign Turkey playmaker Arda Turan from La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid, the Club confirmed on Monday. But the agreement is anything but routine.

Barca will pay 34 million for Arda, plus another 7 million in variables, and the 28-year-old's contract will be for five years, the club said on their website. So far, so good.

The deal to sign Arda is complicated by the fact that the club are in the midst of a presidential election campaign and are being administered by a spe cial commission, which had to approve the transfer.

Barcelona have said that the commission approved the transfer as coach Luis Enrique had requested the signing to strengthen their midfield following the departure of Xavi Hernandez.

The commission has included an unusual clause that gives whoever wins the July 18 election the option of selling Arda back to Atleti less 10 percent of the transfer fee of 34 million. The new president has to make this decision within two days, by July 20.

Even if he stays, Arda will not be able to play until January as Barca have been banned by FIFA from registering new signings from infringement of rules on the transfer of foreign under-18 players.

Arda may struggle to get a regular starting spot in a Barca midfield which also features Andres Iniesta, Ivan Rakitic and Sergio Busquets but would be a useful player to bring off the bench in the second half.

With his ability to unlock stubborn defences with a killer pass, the stocky and heavily-bearded midfielder was a key figure in Atletico's charge to a first La Liga title in 18 years and their run to the Champions League final in 2013-14.

He spoke about his role on the pitch in an interview published on FIFA.com in October. "I take care of organising the attack," he said.

"When we're under the cosh, I can hold up the ball to give my teammates a breather, maybe forcing someone into fouling me."