Abidal won three league titles with Lyon

The 27-year-old full-back, who has been capped 24 times for his country, has signed a four-year contract with Barca.

Abidal is Barcelona's third signing of the week following the arrival of striker Thierry Henry from Arsenal and midfielder Yaya Toure from Monaco.

Abidal, who joined Lyon from Lille in 2004 and went on to win three Ligue 1 titles, said: "I believe I have the right characteristics to succeed here."