Barcelona have completed the signing of French international defender Jules Kounde from Sevilla on a five-year contract.
The buyout clause has been set at one billion euros (€1,000,000,000).
Chelsea were also interested in Kounde and held talks with Sevilla, but the player preferred to move to Barca.
Barca coach Xavi Hernandez was especially insistent on the signing and had maintained regular contact with Kounde in the weeks leading up to the transfer.
The Blaugrana are now well-covered at centre-back, with the arrival of Kounde and Christensen. Kounde and Araujo can also play at right-back.
Koundes spent three years in Spain with Sevilla, during which time he has made 133 appearances and scored nine goals.
On the afternoon of July 29, Kounde got kitted out in blaugrana for his first training session at the club.