Official: Real Madrid announce signing of Lens' Raphael Varane

Real Madrid have announced they have completed the signing of RC Lens defender Raphael Varane for an undisclosed fee.

The France Under-21 international passed a medical with Real Madrid earlier on Monday and has penned a contract until 2017 with the club.

Varane, who made his professional debut for Lens only last year, has established himself as one of France's most promising youth players despite his club being relegated to Ligue 2.

Upon arriving at the Spanish capital's airport, Varane said he was 'very happy' to sign for Real Madrid, who finished second in La Liga last season.

Gareth Lowe: Are Barcelona really 'more than a club'?

Recently, more than ever before, Barcelona's claims of being "more than a club" have come under close scrutiny. A club that for over 100 years bore no sponsor on the front of their shirt, a club that donates unprecedented amounts to charity and a club that acts as a standard bearer for the region of Catalonia.

The one club who have more grounds on which to dispute those claims than anybody else, is Arsenal. If anybody has ever been given a reason to dislike Barcelona, it's the north Londoners.

Their public pursuit of captain Cesc Fabregas ruffled the feathers of the Gunners, before consecutive Champions League exits at the Camp Nou, marred with controversy despite clear Catalan dominance in both second-legs, have added to the suffering that Barcelona have caused Arsenal in recent years.