Alex Song, the seventh African to play for FC Barcelona

Alex Song, after he finalises his move to the team led by Tito Vilanova, will become the seventh African player to defend the Blaugrana colours in Club history. The first African to don the Blaugrana strip was the Angolan Alberto Mendonça, signed from Atlético Madrid, 67 years after the Catalan Club was founded.

Two Nigerians followed Mendonça

It wasn’t until 1996 that the the Club signed its second African player, Emmmanuel Amunike from Sporting Lisbon. The next African player to don the FC Barcelona strip was Samuel Okunowo, when Luis van Gaal was the team’s manager.

Samuel Eto’o, the insatiable goal scorer

Samuel Eto'o is perhaps the most famous African player to ever defend the Blaugrana strip. The Cameroon international signed with Barça in 2004 from Mallorca, and he played for the Club for five seasons.

Touré Yaya, Seydou Keita ... and Song

Touré Yaya was the fifth African player to play for FC Barcelona after he signed with the Club from AS Monaco. The Ivory Coast international arrived to Barça in Frank Rijkaard’s last season at the first-team helm. Seydou Keita, on the other hand, was Pep Guardiola’s first signing. This summer, however, the Mali international put an end to his four-year career at FC Barcelona.

After the Club closes the deal with Alex Song, the Cameroon international will be seventh African player to don the Blaugrana colours in Club history.