Bojan, Heinze and Nego join Roma revolution

Bojan Krkić will play for AS Roma for at least the next two seasons after leaving FC Barcelona for the first time in his career, while Gabriel Heinze and Loïc Nego have also signed for the UEFA Europa League hopefuls.

Roma have paid a fee of €12m for Bojan, though the Catalan club will re-sign the 20-year-old at the end of the 2012/13 campaign for €13m. The Giallorossi have an option to block that return to the Camp Nou, but in such a case the overall cost of the deal would rise to €40m.

"I consider myself privileged to have been part of a great team which has become the best in the world," Bojan said at a farewell press conference. "I want to thank all the people who have helped me since I was nine to fulfil my dream. Thanks to Pep [Guardiola] and my colleagues."

Bojan, a UEFA European Under-21 Championship winner with Spain over the summer, leaves Camp Nou with a record of 26 goals in 104 Liga appearances. He departs the home of the UEFA Champions League winners following Thursday's arrival of Chilean international midfielder Alexis Sánchez.

Argentinia defender Heinze, meanwhile, has joined on a one-year contract after leaving Olympique de Marseille. The 33-year-old, capped 72 times, has won league titles in England (Manchester United FC), Spain (Real Madrid CF) and France (Marseille).

Roma have also signed right-back Loïc Nego on a free transfer from FC Nantes. No details have been unveiled of the length of the contract penned by the 20-year-old, who won the UEFA European Under-19 Championship last year. The Giallorossi finished sixth in Serie A last term and will enter the UEFA Europa League at the play-off stage.