The Barcelona vice-president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, flew to London yesterday to tie up midfielder Alex Song's £15m move from Arsenal.

Bartomeu returned to Barcelona last night confident that Song will sign in time for their first La Liga game of the season at home to Real Sociedad this weekend.

The Cameroon international looks set to be reunited with Cesc Fabregas who made the same move last summer. Barça face Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup a week tomorrow and have so far only added Valencia full-back Jordi Alba to the side that finished second to Jose Mourinho's team last season.