FC Barcelona and Real Zaragoza have both announced that Argentine international Gabriel Milito will join the club once the player returns from the Copa América.

Barça and Zaragoza have agreed a fee of €17 million for Milito but the fee could rise to €20.5 million depending on what Milito wins with the club. His buy out clause has been set at €90 million.

Meanwhile, Milito himself had apparently agreed personal terms with Barça before he set off to the Copa América and will pen a 4 year deal with the club as soon as all the other formalities have been sorted out.

Milito has been at Real Zaragoza since 2003 after a move to arch-rivals Real Madrid broke down at the very last minute due to worries about a knee injury he picked up in 2001 whilst playing for Independiente.

Since then, he has gone on to win the Copa del Rey (against Real Madrid in the final) in his very first season at the club, however, that was the only major trophy he has won in his time at La Romareda. He did come close to winning the Copa del Rey again in 2006, but he and Zaragoza were hammered 4-1 by RCD Espanyol in the final.

"He is a leader on the pitch and in the dressing room and a great professional," said sporting director Txiki Begiristain

"We know him well," continued Begiristain. "He has played in the Spanish league for four years at a very high level. He is a leader both on the field and in the dressing room as well as being a great professional with so many qualities. He is aggressive, quick, strong in the air and has a good left foot.

"Milito was the best option."

Milito will take part in the Copa América semi-final this morning against Mexico hoping to help his side book a place in the final against Brazil. He will come up against another Barça central defender in this match, Rafael Márquez. Alongside Milito will be Lionel Messi.