"Firstly I would like to apologise to all the Arsenal fans for not speaking sooner about my future but I have not known what I was going to do until this moment," Fabregas said in a statement.

"I cannot deny that joining a club like Barcelona was not an attractive move for me… There are not many players in the world who would not want to play for Barcelona.

"This was the club where I learnt my football, it is my home town where my friends and family are and a club where I have always dreamed of playing.

"I am a professional and I fully understand that it is Arsenal's prerogative not to sell me… I can assure all the fans that now the negotiations have ended I will be 100 per cent focused on playing for Arsenal."

Fabregas was part of Spain's squad that won the World Cup in South Africa last month.

Barcelona tried to lure him to the Nou Camp this summer but English side Arsenal rejected two bids for him.

"I owe a lot to the club, manager and the fans and I will respect their decision and will now concentrate on the new season ahead with Arsenal," Fabregas added.