The details of Eto'o's deal have not been disclosed

The move came after Real Madrid, who co-owned the player with Real Mallorca, decided not to exercise their option to buy the Indomitable Lion.

"He's a young but experienced player who has performed exceptionally well for both Mallorca and his country," said Barcelona captain Carles Puyol.

The Spanish club paid a fee of US$29.41 million for the 23-year-old.

Eto'o, who signed a four-year deal with the club, will wear the number nine shirt previously worn by Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert.

He's a young but experienced player who has performed exceptionally well Barcelona captain Carles Puyol

Real were reported to be keen to use Eto'o as part of a deal to sign Liverpool striker Michael Owen but Eto'o's insistence on joining the Catalan club gave them little option but to accept the move.

"If they had offered to pay 1000 million, I would not have gone to Real Madrid because I would never have been happy," said the Cameroon international after signing.

"I gave all I could to make the Mallorca fans happy while I was there and now I will try and do the same at Barcelona."

Eto'o is the seventh player to join Barca since the end of last season, when they finished runners-up to Valencia in the Spanish championship.

The purchase of Eto'o brings their total spending on new recruits to over US$73 million.

Portugal playmaker Deco, Sweden striker Henrik Larsson, French midfielder Ludovic Giuly and Brazilian defenders Juliano Belletti, Silvinho and Edmilson are the other new signings.