FC Barcelona have signed Celta Vigo goalkeeper José Manuel Pinto on loan for the rest of the season. He will act as Victor Valdés' backup and will replace Albert Jorquera who was ruled out for the rest of the season after picking up a knee injury whilst on international duty with the Catalan XI.

Pinto will cost Barça €500,000 for this loan deal, however, the club will have the option of signing him permanently at the end of the loan agreement without having to pay any more money to Celta.

The player will undergo a medical on Friday morning and should everything prove to be fine, will be presented to the media in the afternoon.

Pinto will provide excellent cover for Victor Valdés and has vast experience in the Primera División. He won the Zamora trophy, awarded to the best goalkeeper statistically in Spain, in 2006, beating Valdés and Valencia goalie Santi Cañizares to the award. He couldn't help stop Celta from getting relegated to the Liga BBVA (second division) last season under the stewardship of Barça legend Hristo Stoichkov.

Pinto has spent 10 seasons at Celta, going through the highs of making the first knock-out stage of the UEFA Champions League in 2004 and the lows of getting relegated that same season and again last season.

José Manuel Pinto was born in Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz on 8th November 1975. He came through the youth ranks of Real Betis and played one full season in the 97/98 season with the first team, making one appearance. In 98, Celta signed him from Betis and from there, he went on to make 182 Primera División and Liga BBVA appearances for the club.